AAA Texas: Weekend Gas Watch; Pump Prices Edge Slightly Higher

HOUSTON--July 23, 2004--Pump prices in Texas edged slightly higher for the second straight week, according to AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch.

The national average for regular self-serve gasoline is $1.917 a gallon, 0.7 cent higher than last week's average. The Texas average for a gallon of regular self-serve increased 0.9 cent to $1.810 a gallon. Last year, a gallon of gas in Texas averaged $1.450.

Last week, Corpus Christi shot up by nine cents to $1.771 a gallon. This week, it climbed a penny to $1.787 a gallon. Fort Worth motorists are paying the same as last week, $1.801 a gallon. San Antonio has the cheapest fuel at $1.768 a gallon -- up 1.2 cents. Dallas inched upward by 0.5 cents to $1.821, the most expensive on the list.

"Rising pump prices are being driven largely by high crude oil prices and continued demand for gasoline in the U.S.," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "Crude oil sold for more than $41 a barrel this week."

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for automobile trips.

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 a.m., July 23, 2004:


                               Weekly           New           Year
Area               Current     Change       Record Price    Ago Price
----               -------     ------       ------------    ---------

National           $1.917    +0.7 cent    $2.054 (5/26/04)   $1.526

State              $1.810    +0.9 cent    $1.927 (5/26/04)   $1.450

Austin-San Marcos  $1.782    +0.7 cent    $1.929 (5/27/04)   $1.421

Beaumont           $1.783    +1.6 cents   $1.903 (6/1/04)    $1.418

Corpus Christi     $1.787    +1.1 cents   $1.925 (5/26/04)   $1.400

Dallas             $1.821    +0.5 cent    $1.932 (5/27/04)   $1.467

Fort Worth         $1.801        n/c      $1.924 (5/28/04)   $1.452

Galveston -
Texas City         $1.791    +1.4 cents   $1.922 (6/1/04)    $1.448

Houston            $1.784    +1.1 cents   $1.909 (6/1/04)    $1.441

San Antonio        $1.768    +1.2 cents   $1.952 (5/26/04)   $1.415

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