Gas Prices Hit Record High; Holiday Travel Remains High, AAA Reports

BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 22, 2003 -- As we approach the Labor Day weekend, AAA reports the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in Washington ($1.875/gal) has reach a record high. Washington's record high price per gallon was $1.863 recorded on March 18, 2003. In the past month, the cost per gallon has increased 24 cents.

The average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in Idaho is $1.736, up 13 cents in the past month and nearing the record high of $1.753 per gallon set on March 20, 2003.

The national average for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline is $1.648 per gallon, up 12 cents from one month ago. The highest recorded national average gas price is $1.722, recorded on March 18, 2003.

Rising gas prices aren't keeping American travelers home this holiday, Labor Day weekend travel is expected to reach its highest level in nine years. AAA estimates that 33.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday. Approximately 28.2 million travelers are expected to go by motor vehicle, and 3.7 million by airplane. AAA Washington/Inland reports a high level of TripTik(R) routing requests from local members for road trips to Yellowstone, California, the Oregon Coast, Crater Lake, Banff/Lake Louise and Vancouver, B.C.

              Sample Self-serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices

   City                 Labor Day 2003   4th of July 2003   Labor Day 2002
   Washington
      Bellingham            1.944             1.615             1.444
      Bremerton             1.840             1.577             1.422
      Olympia               1.863             1.571             1.398
      Seattle
       -Bellevue
       -Everett             1.888             1.608             1.492
      Spokane               1.807             1.561             1.426
      Tacoma                1.824             1.559             1.423
      Tri-Cities            1.823             1.585             1.474
      Vancouver             1.843             1.541             1.396
      Walla Walla           1.850             1.640               N/A
      Wenatchee             1.874             1.592             1.478
      Yakima                1.860             1.605             1.441
   Idaho
      Coeur d'Alene         1.801             1.601             1.496
      Lewiston              1.750             1.550               N/A

AAA Washington/Inland provides over 824,000 members in Washington and northern Idaho a full range of products and benefits, including travel agencies, personal lines insurance agencies, a range of auto-related services, and member discounts on many consumer products and services. A not-for-profit organization, AAA also assists travelers through its highway and transportation safety and legislative advocacy programs. More information about AAA is available on the company's website at www.aaa.com . For daily fuel price updates go to www.fuelgaugereport.com .

For further information, please contact (8/20 - 8/22), Jennifer Harbison, +1-425-646-2055, or (8/25 - 8/29), Janet Ray, +1-425-646-2058, or Dave Overstreet, cell +1-509-994-3469, all of AAA Washington/Inland.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A spokesperson will be available for in-person interviews until 1pm today (8/22), after that only by phone until Monday morning.