Auto Club: Gas Prices Continue Upward March for 13th Week

    LOS ANGELES--April 5, 2002--For the 13th consecutive week, gasoline prices rose throughout Southern California as spring break travel boosted demand for fuel, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.617 per gallon, which is 3.9 cents above last week's price, 27 cents higher than last month's price and 4 cents lower than the price at this time last year.
    In San Diego the price is $1.666, which is 3.6 cents higher than last week's level, 26 cents higher than last month and 14 cents lower than last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.676, which is 4.6 cents above last week's price, 24 cents higher than last month's price and 16 cents lower than the price last year.
    "Tensions in the Middle East combined with high demand are pushing prices upward," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "However, no one knows how high prices will go or whether they will surge past the $2 plus a gallon recorded in many areas last May."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., April 5:

Area                       Regular     Change from    Record Price 
                                        last week      

Los Angeles-Long Beach     $1.617      +3.9 cents     $2.036 (5/25)

San Diego                  $1.666      +3.6 cents     $2.025 (5/29)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                     $1.676      +4.6 cents     $2.069 (5/16)

Las Vegas                  $1.425      +4.4 cents     $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.        $1.300      +1.6 cents     $1.720 (5/30)