LA Auto Club: Third Consecutive Week of Lower Gasoline Prices

    LOS ANGELES--Dec. 6, 2002--For the third straight week gasoline prices in the southwest region fell below the previous week, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    During that three-week period, the average price of a gallon of gas in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area fell 3.6 cents. 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 $1.564 per gallon, which is 1.2 cents lower than last week's price, 2 cents lower than last month and 43 cents higher than last year.
    In San Diego the price is $1.639, which is 1.2 cents lower than last week's level, 1 cent below last month and 31 cents more than last year. Motorists in the central coast have an average price of $1.634, which is 1.2 cents below the price last week, 2 cents below last month and 39 cents higher than last year.
    "Weak seasonal demand is the primary reason for falling gas prices," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "There are ample gasoline supplies on the market so we should see the downward trend continuing at least for the next week."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Dec. 6:

Area                        Regular    Change from    Record Price
                                        last week

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.564      -1.2 cents    $2.036 (5/25/01)

San Diego                   $1.639      -1.2 cents    $2.025 (5/29/01)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc                      $1.634      -1.2 cents    $2.069 (5/16/01)

Las Vegas                   $1.428      -1.7 cents    $1.885 (3/27/00)

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.         $1.353      -1.6 cents    $1.720 (5/30/01)