AAA TEXAS: Weekend Gas Watch; Fuel Prices Decrease Third Consecutive Week

    HOUSTON--Nov. 15, 2002--The statewide average price for regular self-serve fuel declined for a third week in a row as crude oil supplies from the Mideast have increased, 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 $1.38 a gallon -- down two pennies since last week. Corpus Christi posted the biggest decrease for the second week in a row -- down nearly four cents to $1.31 a gallon. Once again, Corpus Christi has the least expensive fuel. San Antonio and the Austin - San Marcos area both average $1.34 a gallon -- down nearly two pennies in both cities. Dallas and the Houston area top the list with the most expensive fuel at $1.39 a gallon -- a drop of about two cents in each city.
    "This downward trend is following lower prices for crude oil from the Mideast and an increased supply in world markets," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "However, the current statewide average price for fuel remains about 25 cents higher than last year's prices."

	   Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Nov. 15, 2002:

                                    Change from
Area                    Regular      last week        Record Price
----                    -------     -----------       ------------

Austin - San Marcos     $1.340      -1.8 cents      $1.538 (5/15/01)

Corpus Christi          $1.305      -3.5 cents      $1.505 (5/8/01)

Dallas                  $1.385      -1.4 cents      $1.666 (5/12/01)

Ft. Worth               $1.373      -2.2 cents      $1.660 (5/22/01)

Houston                 $1.386      -2.2 cents      $1.639 (5/12/01)

San Antonio             $1.339      -1.5 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.