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PRESS RELEASE

AAA Says Easter Gas Prices Highest In 16 Years

19 March 1997

Easter Gas Prices Highest In 16 Years, AAA Says

    ORLANDO, Fla., March 18 -- The national average gasoline
price dropped 1.6 cents per gallon this month, but motorists will still find
the highest gas prices in advance of the Easter holiday in 16 years.
    AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Report shows the average price of self-serve
regular unleaded gasoline is $1.271 per gallon, 9.1 cents more than one year
ago.  This month's price is the highest for Easter since 1981 when the price
reached $1.388.
    The average price of self-serve mid-grade unleaded is $1.354 per gallon,
1.2 cents less than last month and 8.2 cents above a year ago.  Self-serve
premium is $1.421, 1.5 cents less than a month ago and 6.8 cents more than
last year.
    Self-serve regular unleaded is most expensive in the West at $1.37 per
gallon, up .4 cent from last month and 11.7 cents higher than a year ago.  It
is least expensive in the Southeast at $1.201, 1.4 cents less than a month ago
and 8.6 cents more than last year.
    Other regional prices for self-serve are:  New England, $1.31 per gallon,
down 1.7 cents in one month and 11.9 cents higher than last year; Mid-
Atlantic, $1.294, down 1.7 cents this month and up 13 cents from a year ago;
Great Lakes, $1.226, down 3.7 cents from last month and 3.7 cents higher than
last year; Midwest, $1.248, down 1.8 cents this month and up 8.8 cents from a
year ago; and Southwest, $1.248, down 1.2 cents in one month and 6.2 cents
more than last year.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for
the last six months were:  February, $1.287 per gallon; January, $1.288;
December, $1.288; November, $1.277; October, $1.259; and September, $1.255.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in
March for the last five years were:  1996, $1.18 per gallon; 1995, $1.116;
1994, $1.065; 1993, $1.11; and 1992, $1.049.
    AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information
Service of Rockville, Md.
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 99 motor clubs with more than
1,000 offices providing more than 39 million members in the U.S. and Canada
with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.

SOURCE  AAA

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CONTACT: Jerry Cheske or Mike Morrissey, both of AAA, 407-444-8000