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AAA Texas Announces Steep Decrease in Gas Prices

    HOUSTON--Oct. 17, 2001--Big decreases in gasoline prices will make auto vacations more affordable and should bolster holiday spending budgets, according to AAA Texas.
    AAA Texas' monthly Fuel Gauge shows the statewide average price of a gallon of gasoline is $1.23, down nearly 20 cents since mid-September when the average price was $1.42 a gallon.
    Nationwide, motorists are paying an average of $1.35 a gallon, a decrease of 20 cents from last month's average of $1.55. Last year's national average was $1.53 a gallon.
    "The steep decline in gas prices is due to a combination of forces including reduced demand following the September 11th attacks, crude oil prices stabilizing near $22 a barrel, and October being an off-season month for travel," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas.
    AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1902. AAA Texas offers its members a full service travel agency, auto-related and financial services, as well as public safety programs and legislative advocacy.



Note:  Attached is Oct. 16, 2001 average price information for 17 
Texas cities.

                  AAA Texas Fuel Gauge Monthly Report

             Average Price of Self-Serve Regular Gasoline
                       In Selected Texas Cities

Metro                State     Oct. `01     Sept. `01      Oct. `00
-------------       -------    --------     ---------      --------
Abilene               TX         1.303        1.484         1.430
Amarillo              TX         1.161        1.555         1.453
Austin                TX         1.219        1.384         1.417
Beaumont              TX         1.229        1.402         1.384
Brownsville           TX         1.111        1.376         1.352
Corpus Christi        TX         1.127        1.368         1.363
Dallas                TX         1.313        1.427         1.469
El Paso               TX         1.279        1.443         1.406
Fort Worth            TX         1.307        1.429         1.443
Houston               TX         1.272        1.403         1.438
Laredo                TX         1.331        1.432         1.481
Longview              TX         1.220        1.456         1.391
Lubbock               TX         1.225        1.477         1.489
Midland               TX         1.253        1.414         1.495
Odessa                TX         1.207        1.400         1.418
San Antonio           TX         1.143        1.365         1.377
Waco                  TX         1.176        1.396         1.362
Average               TX         1.228        1.424         1.421

                  (Oct. '01)                (Oct. '00)
National             $1.35                     $1.53         down .18

Texas                $1.23                     $1.42         down .19