Auto Club: So Cal Gas Prices Jump as Summer Nears End

LOS ANGELES--Aug. 15, 2003--Gasoline prices in Southern California and the Southwest have jumped after a seven-week downward trend, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.

Currently, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $1.743 per gallon, up 6.9 cents from last week. That's 0.3 cents lower than last month and 13.2 cents higher than this time last year. In San Diego, the price is $1.782, which is 7.8 cents above last week's level, 1.9 cents higher than last month and 13.6 cents above last year. Motorists in the Central Coast pay an average price of $1.822, which is 5.2 cents higher than last week's price, 3.4 cents lower than last month and 13.9 cents higher than last year.

"A pipeline shutdown in Arizona has caused spot prices to spike on the West Coast, and that increase has been translated quickly to the pump," said Carol Thorp, Auto Club spokesperson. "Also, refinery problems in Texas and a reduction in imported gasoline from Europe are contributing to an already tight gasoline market at the same time that we're experiencing high demand due to the summer vacation driving season."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips. Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., Aug. 15, 2003:

 
Area                        Regular    Change from    Record Price
                                        last week       

Los Angeles-Long Beach      $1.743     +6.9 cents     $2.167 (3/22/03)

San Diego                   $1.782     +7.8 cents     $2.211 (3/20/03)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-

Lompoc                      $1.828     +5.2 cents     $2.207 (3/22/03)

Las Vegas                   $1.682     +4.5 cents     $2.063 (3/25/03)

Phoenix                     $1.684     +14.8 cents    $2.003 (3/22/03)