The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Memorial Day Travelers Benefit From Slight Drop in Southern California Gas Prices

12 May 1999

Memorial Day Travelers Benefit From Slight Drop in Southern California Gas Prices

    LOS ANGELES--May 11, 1999--The average price of regular self-serve unleaded gasoline in Southern California inched downward by 5.4 cents, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California Fuel Gauge Report.
    The slight drop comes in time to give Memorial Day travelers some reprieve from recent spikes in gasoline prices. The May average price is $1.560 which compares with $1.614 on April 20. The lower average price compares with an April state average of $1.586, and a national average of $1.157 cents per gallon. The national average has increased nearly a penny compared with April.
    Travelers to Northern California can expect to pay an average $1.59 for regular. San Francisco is higher at an average $1.69 per gallon for regular.
    Oil industry analysts say California gas prices will continue to drop as refineries that experienced production problems earlier in the year are restarted. The Tosco refinery in Avon is expected to restart this summer.
    Nationally, a robust economy keeps refineries running at full capacity to keep up with demand. If OPEC countries hold to reduced production levels, prices nationally may continue to inch up over the next few months.
    In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:

                                      UNL      PRE
Imperial County

El Centro                           1.6467    1.821

Kern County

Bakersfield                         1.5692    1.7493
Ridgecrest                          1.6161

Los Angeles County

Alhambra                            1.5205    1.7223
Arcadia                              1.539    1.739
Burbank                             1.5089    1.6868
Culver City                          1.567    1.7395
Glendale                            1.5236    1.7197
Glendora                            1.5412    1.679
Inglewood                           1.5361    1.7154
Lancaster                           1.5161    1.7361
Long Beach                          1.5366    1.7173
Los Angeles                          1.526    1.6927
Manhattan Beach                     1.5846    1.784
Montebello                          1.5124    1.6647
Santa Clarita                       1.6064    1.772
Santa Monica                        1.6044    1.7428
Van Nuys                            1.4763    1.6505
Whittier                            1.4946    1.6675
Woodland Hills                      1.5581    1.6725

Orange County

Anaheim                             1.5227    1.6952
Fullerton                           1.5039    1.67
Huntington Beach                    1.4881    1.6563
La Habra                            1.4612    1.6348
San Clemente                        1.5896    1.824
Newport Beach                       1.5634    1.7434
Tustin                              1.5648    1.7318
Laguna Hills                        1.5682    1.6697

Riverside County

Riverside                           1.505     1.6683
Palm Springs                        1.539     1.759
Hemet                               1.5713    1.7707
Blythe                              1.6603    1.8715

San Diego County

Chula Vista                         1.6234    1.8013
Del Mar                             1.6438    1.8557
Escondido                           1.5973    1.7705
Oceanside                           1.5787    1.7844
San Diego                           1.6167    1.781

San Bernardino County

San Bernardino                      1.5379    1.6768
Redlands                            1.5694    1.6715
Victorville                         1.5539    1.7382

Santa Barbara County

Lompoc                              1.5499
Santa Barbara                       1.6076    1.7823
Santa Maria                         1.5721    1.7161

San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo                     1.5647    1.7312

Tulare County

Visalia                             1.5518    1.7444
Porterville                         1.5969    1.599

Inyo County

Bishop                              1.6183    1.759

Ventura County

Ventura                             1.5968    1.7645

So. Cal. Average                    1.5604    1.7292


    The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. The data is provided by Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.