AAA TEXAS: Weekend Gas Watch; Statewide Average Holds Steady

    HOUSTON--Jan. 24, 2003--The statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline is holding steady despite tensions across the globe, 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.
    While the Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve fuel is $1.42 -- the same as last week's average -- prices in many cities have either moved down or slightly up. San Antonio has the least expensive fuel at nearly $1.39 a gallon -- down less than a penny compared to a week ago. The Austin - San Marcos area and Corpus Christi both average about $1.40 a gallon. Motorists in the Austin - San Marcos area barely noticed the increase, up a tenth of a cent, while the price of gas in Corpus Christi dropped two-tenths of a cent. Houston edged past Dallas by a tenth of a penny to $1.43 a gallon, the most expensive fuel on the list.
    "Although retail prices remained steady, concern over Venezuelan oil production and a possible war with Iraq pushed crude oil prices above $34 a barrel this week -- the highest level in two years," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "Uncertainty over fuel supplies brought on by fears of war may prompt prices to move higher."

	   Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Jan. 24, 2003:

Area                    Regular      Change        Record Price
----                    -------      ------        ------------
Austin - San Marcos     $1.397      +0.1 cent     $1.538 (5/15/01)
Corpus Christi          $1.397      -0.2 cent     $1.505 (5/8/01)
Dallas                  $1.427      +0.3 cent     $1.666 (5/12/01)
Ft. Worth               $1.420      +0.6 cent     $1.660 (5/22/01)
Houston                 $1.428      +0.6 cent     $1.639 (5/12/01)
San Antonio             $1.387      -0.3 cent     $1.498 (5/9/01)

    AAA Texas, LLC, an affiliate of the AAA, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, more than a million AAA Texas members benefit from the organization's roadside assistance, travel agency, insurance, financial products, automotive products, 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.