Nor Cal Gas Prices Down, But Reports of $2 Per Gallon Still Surface
16 August 2000
Northern California Gas Prices Cool Down in Latest AAA Survey; Slow Downward Trend, But Eureka and Yreka Still Report $2 Per Gallon
SAN FRANCISCO - As the summer driving season winds down, AAA today reported gas prices in Northern California are starting to cool down from their record high set last month.The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded self-serve gas in Northern California, according to AAA's monthly gas survey, is $1.85, down 3 cents from the record-breaking $1.88 set last month, but 20 cents higher than a year ago.
Gas prices in the Bay Area today are $1.86, also down 3 cents from July, and 20 cents higher than last August. Eureka, with $2.04, and Yreka, at $2, have the highest gas prices in Northern California. Chico and Modesto report the lowest in Northern California, at $1.74.
Statewide, the California average is $1.71, down 5 cents from July. Southern California reports gas prices at $1.66 per gallon.
The national AAA gas survey reports gasoline prices fell in all regions of the United States during the last month and now average $1.50 nationwide. It is 8 cents lower than the last survey on July 18, but 24 cents higher than a year ago at this time.
"While the decrease in gas prices is slight, it is certainly welcome news to consumers," said Bob Brown, spokesman for AAA of Northern California. "Hopefully, after Labor Day the situation should improve more noticeably."
August 15, 2000 average prices for regular unleaded self-serve gas:
| -- | N. CALIFORNIA, $1.85, down 3 cents from July; second highest on record |
| -- | BAY AREA, $1.86, down 3 cents from July; second highest on record |
| -- | NEVADA, $1.70 |
| -- | UTAH, $1.58 |
| -- | S. CALIFORNIA, $1.66, down 6 cents from July |
| -- | U.S. AVERAGE, $1.50, down 8 cents from July N. CALIFORNIA CITIES |
| -- | Chico, $1.74, down 9 cents |
| -- | Concord, $1.82, down 4 cents |
| -- | Eureka, $2.04, up 2 cents |
| -- | Fremont, $1.83, down 6 cents (NEW) |
| -- | Fresno, $1.77, down 4 cents |
| -- | Marysville, $1.78, down 7 cents (NEW) |
| -- | Modesto, $1.74, down 6 cents |
| -- | Monterey, $1.84, down 2 cents |
| -- | Oakland, $1.89, down a penny |
| -- | Pleasanton, $ 1.93, up 1 cent (NEW) |
| -- | Redding, $1.83, down 6 cents |
| -- | S. Lake Tahoe, $1.88, down 3 cents |
| -- | Sacramento, $1.77, down 6 cents |
| -- | Salinas, $1.75, down a nickel |
| -- | San Francisco, $1.96, down a penny |
| -- | San Jose, $ 1.86, down a nickel |
| -- | San Mateo, $1.95, down 2 cents |
| -- | San Rafael, $ 1.85, down 6 cents |
| -- | Santa Cruz, $ 1.89, down 4 cents |
| -- | Santa Rosa, $1.82, down a penny |
| -- | Stockton, $1.80, down 3 cents |
| -- | Tracy, $1.77, down 1 cent |
| -- | Ukiah, $1.90, unchanged (NEW) |
| -- | Vallejo, $1.80, down 2 cents (NEW) |
| -- | Yreka, $2.00 cent unchanged (NEW) NEVADA, $1.70, down 6 cents |
| -- | Carson City, $ 1.71, down 7 cents (NEW) |
| -- | Elko, $1.67, down a penny (NEW) |
| -- | Las Vegas, $ 1.67, down a nickel |
| -- | Reno, $ 1.75, down 6 cents UTAH, $1.58, down 2 cents |
| -- | Moab, $1.71, unchanged (NEW) |
| -- | Ogden, $ 1.53, down 3 cents |
| -- | Orem, $ 1.56, down a penny (NEW) |
| -- | Provo, $1.58, up 1 cent |
| -- | Salt Lake City, $1.51, down 6 cents |
| -- | St. George, $ 1.61, down 4 cents (NEW) |
According to Alan Kovski, energy analyst with the Kiplinger Letter, "We're starting to see a week-by-week drop in the price of gas, and we expect the decrease to continue through August and September, when students return to school."
In Nevada, the statewide average price of gas is $1.70, down 6 cents from July and up 14 cents since a year ago. Reno had the highest price, at $1.75 per gallon; Las Vegas reported $1.67.
In Utah, the state average recorded $1.58, down 2 cents from July, according to AAA.
Established 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide array of automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. The California State Automobile Association serves 4 million members and is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.
AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 60,000 self-serve stations surveyed nationally every day. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.
