AAA TEXAS: Weekend Gas Watch; Gas Prices Continue Upward Trend

    HOUSTON--Oct. 11, 2002--The statewide average price for regular self-serve gasoline jumped higher this week compared to last, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by AAA Texas. The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    The Texas average is $1.39 a gallon -- three cents more than last week. San Antonio and Corpus Christi tied for the biggest increase -- both went up an average of 5 cents a gallon. However, San Antonio still has the least expensive fuel in the state at slightly under $1.37 a gallon, while in Corpus Christi gas is a penny more at $1.38 a gallon. Motorists in Houston and Dallas are at the top of the scale at $1.39 a gallon, up about three cents in both cities.
    "Fuel prices moved higher this week although crude oil prices retreated to a three-week low of nearly $28 per barrel," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "It's difficult to gauge whether this upward trend will continue since the prospect of war against Iraq appears to have lessened and oil supplies are plentiful."

            Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Oct. 4, 2002:

                                     Change from
Area                     Regular      last week       Record Price
----                     -------     -----------      ------------
Austin - San Marcos       $1.369     +4.4 cents     $1.538 (5/15/01)

Corpus Christi            $1.378     +5.0 cents     $1.505 (5/8/01)

Dallas                    $1.388     +2.8 cents     $1.666 (5/12/01)

Ft. Worth                 $1.383     +2.9 cents     $1.660 (5/22/01)

Houston                   $1.385     +3.0 cents     $1.639 (5/12/01)

San Antonio               $1.368     +5.0 cents     $1.498 (5/9/01)

    AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.