Southern California Gas Prices Edge Down From Peak
19 April 2000
Southern California Gas Prices Edge Down From Peak
LOS ANGELES--April 18, 2000--While still higher than a month ago, Southern California gasoline prices have been slowly edging down from their peak three weeks ago.California prices are falling slower than the national average, which showed an overall decrease of 5.4 cents a gallon compared to March. The price reductions, however slight, are a result of OPEC's March agreement to boost oil production.
The April average price of regular self-serve unleaded in Southern California is $1.757 compared to $1.701 on March 14. The "lowest" of the high gas prices in Southern California this month can be found in La Habra and Van Nuys where the average price for a gallon of self serve unleaded is $1.665 and $1.669 respectively. Premium grade gasoline remains higher than $2 per gallon in numerous cities, including Blythe, Bishop, Del Mar, El Centro, Ridgecrest, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.
The April statewide average is $1.783 -- up from $1.736 on March 15. However, the average retail price of regular unleaded gasoline in California peaked about three weeks ago at $1.79 -- an all-time high, according to weekly surveys of 38 California stations by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Travelers to northern California can expect to pay an average of $1.92 in San Francisco, which is 2 cents higher than March. Las Vegas has an average of $1.80, down from a peak of $1.86 two weeks ago. The April national average is $1.489 cents per gallon -- down 5.4 cents compared to March.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County Unl Prem Imperial County El Centro 1.915 2.109 Inyo County Bishop 1.912 2.119 Kern County Bakersfield 1.799 1.926 Ridgecrest 1.789 1.933 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.683 1.879 Arcadia 1.684 1.869 Burbank 1.685 1.851 Culver City 1.776 1.943 Glendale 1.700 1.885 Glendora 1.739 1.879 Inglewood 1.705 1.879 Lancaster 1.700 1.882 Long Beach 1.710 1.913 Los Angeles 1.723 1.899 Manhattan Beach 1.775 1.959 Montebello 1.713 1.879 Santa Monica 1.788 1.949 Van Nuys 1.669 1.859 Whittier 1.697 1.879 Woodland Hills 1.707 1.912 Orange County Anaheim 1.715 1.889 Fullerton 1.709 1.849 Huntington Bch 1.691 1.896 La Habra 1.665 1.779 Laguna Beach 1.755 1.905 Newport Beach 1.769 1.924 San Clemente 1.801 1.989 Tustin 1.739 1.925 Riverside County Blythe 1.872 2.069 Hemet 1.760 1.957 Palm Springs 1.822 1.999 Riverside 1.722 1.863 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.736 1.859 San Bernardino 1.721 1.882 Victorville 1.702 1.849 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.805 1.994 Del Mar 1.834 2.049 Escondido 1.747 1.957 Oceanside 1.769 1.927 San Diego 1.788 1.964 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.813 1.998 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.819 1.999 Santa Barbara 1.865 2.028 Santa Maria 1.814 2.006 Tulare County Porterville 1.744 1.933 Visalia 1.756 1.899 Ventura County Ventura 1.766 1.962 So. Cal. Avg 1.757 1.931
During this period of high prices, the Auto Club continues to urge motorists to practice common-sense fuel conservation techniques and to shop aggressively for the lowest price.
Properly maintaining your vehicle is a critical component in reducing gas usage, according to Steve Mazor, principal automotive engineer. Underinflated tires, for example, can cut fuel economy by up to 2% per pound of pressure below the recommended level. Worn spark plugs and dirty air filters also increase fuel consumption. The Club also offers the following gas saving tips:
-- Knowing the correct starting procedure for your car. Racing an
engine to warm it up wastes fuel.
-- Maintaining steady speeds. A car uses extra fuel when it
accelerates.
-- Minimizing the need to brake by anticipating traffic
conditions. Be alert for slow-downs and red lights.
-- Using the air conditioner only when necessary. Air
conditioning reduces fuel economy by about 5%.
The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data.
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.