Pre-Holiday Gas Price Highest Since 1990, AAA Survey Shows

8 December 1999

Pre-Holiday Gas Price Highest Since 1990, AAA Survey Shows

    ORLANDO, Fla.--Dec. 7, 1999--Gasoline prices increased 2.8 cents per gallon in the last three weeks, rising to their highest pre-Christmas level since 1990, according to AAA.
    AAA's monthly Fuel Gauge Report shows self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.31 per gallon nationwide, the highest December price since 1990 when the average was $1.371 per gallon. In November, the nationwide average price was $1.282 per gallon.
    Gas prices are up 28.7 cents per gallon since last December, when the average fuel price was $1.023.
    Self-serve mid-grade averages $1.404 per gallon, up 3.2 cents from November. Self-serve premium averages $1.468, up 3 cents in three weeks.
    Self-serve regular unleaded gasoline is most expensive in the West at $1.397 per gallon, down .1 cent from last month. It is least expensive in the Southeast at $1.253, up 5.7 cents from the previous month. One year ago the average price of self-serve regular unleaded in the West was $1.179. In the Southeast, the average price was 95.3 cents a year ago.
    Other regional prices for self-serve regular unleaded are: New England, $1.353 per gallon, 1.9 cents higher than last month and 29.9 cents higher than a year ago; Mid-Atlantic, $1.307, up 3.4 cents since last month and up 29.2 cents from last year; Great Lakes, $1.311, up 6.3 cents from last month and 34.1 cents above last year; Midwest, $1.247 up 3.4 cents from November and 29.7 cents higher than a year ago; and Southwest, $1.265, 3.1cents higher than last month and 29.2 cents above last year.
    The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for the last six months were: November, $1.282 per gallon; October, $1.293; September, $1.282; August, $1.255; July, $1.174; June, $1.142; May, $1.157.
    The national average prices for December in the last nine years were: 1998, $1.023 per gallon; 1997, $1.26; 1996, $1.288; 1995, $1.118; 1994, $1.149; 1993, $1.091; 1992, $1.128; 1991, $1.113; 1990, $1.371.
    AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service - the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information (800-929-4824, ext. 2645).

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