Finally, Relief: Gas Prices Down Almost 20 Cents This Month, Says Auto Club

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - June 12, 2007) - The average monthly price of gasoline in Southern California finally fell after five consecutive months of increases, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report. The monthly average is almost identical to prices paid at this time last year.

The Southern California June average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $3.30, down nearly 19 cents from last month's all-time record high of $3.486.

"Gas prices have fallen more steeply in the last month than they did during this time last year, but we are now paying about the same as we did this time last year," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Wholesale gasoline prices in California and nationwide have dropped significantly in recent days, which is benefiting consumers."

Statewide, the average price for June is $3.301, down from $3.478 in May. The state's lowest average prices are in Tracy and Chico, where regular sells for $3.15. San Francisco has the state’s highest average at $3.58.

Nationally, the average price is $3.066, down 2 cents from May. Hawaii has overtaken California once again as the state with the highest gas price average -- $3.399. South Carolina has the lowest average price, at $2.869.

In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:

County/City            Reg 6-12  Reg 5-15  Pre 6-12  Pre 5-15
Imperial County                                          
El Centro               3.432     3.635     3.699     3.839
                                                         
Inyo County                                              
Bishop                  3.188     3.443     3.399     3.641
                                                         
Kern County                                              
Bakersfield             3.184     3.460     3.369     3.664
Ridgecrest              3.279     3.466     3.480     3.466
                                                         
Los Angeles County                                       
Alhambra                3.252     3.446     3.412     3.612
Arcadia                 3.302     3.476     3.577     3.702
Burbank                 3.281     3.467     3.492     3.664
Culver City             3.359     3.534     3.569     3.738
Glendale                3.328     3.470     3.554     3.711
Glendora                3.229     3.449     3.425     3.739
Inglewood               3.235     3.428     3.446     3.619
Lancaster               3.333     3.507     3.537     3.719
Long Beach              3.214     3.450     3.425     3.637
Los Angeles             3.329     3.509     3.526     3.658
Manhattan Beach         3.368     3.512     3.649     3.779
Montebello              3.205     3.392     3.429     3.582
Santa Clarita           3.239     3.422     3.389     3.619
Santa Monica            3.346     3.515     3.674     3.726
Van Nuys                3.258     3.422     3.453     3.599
Whittier                3.221     3.391     3.372     3.479
Woodland Hills          3.294     3.463     3.456     3.609
                                                         
Orange County                                            
Anaheim                 3.212     3.413     3.412     3.563
Fullerton               3.182     3.425     3.414     3.607
Huntington Beach        3.187     3.425     3.382     3.612
La Habra                3.163     3.404     3.372     3.559
Laguna Beach            3.454     3.632     3.697     3.632
Newport Beach           3.333     3.514     3.579     3.755
San Clemente            3.337     3.528     3.549     3.739
Tustin                  3.335     3.500     3.574     3.759
                                                         
Riverside County                                         
Blythe                  3.521     3.627     3.699     3.799
Hemet                   3.206     3.463     3.451     3.586
Palm Springs            3.276     3.470     3.509     3.719
Riverside               3.237     3.427     3.439     3.607
                                                         
San Bernardino County                                    
Redlands                3.272     3.502     3.584     3.699
San Bernardino          3.220     3.457     3.416     3.479
Victorville             3.197     3.440     3.429     3.528
                                                         
San Diego County                                         
Chula Vista             3.271     3.464     3.441     3.612
Del Mar                 3.436     3.639     3.579     3.769
Escondido               3.214     3.426     3.419     3.671
Oceanside               3.300     3.495     3.575     3.725
San Diego               3.262     3.494     3.480     3.692
                                                         
San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo         3.485     3.545     3.659     3.819
                                                         
Santa Barbara County                                     
Lompoc                  3.439     3.532     3.671     3.859
Santa Barbara           3.470     3.609     3.634     3.796
Santa Maria             3.480     3.573     3.739     3.779
                                                         
Tulare County                                            
Porterville             3.372     3.519     3.379     3.549
Visalia                 3.363     3.508     3.512     3.649
                                                         
Ventura County                                           
Ventura                 3.293     3.462     3.500     3.597
                                                         
So. Calif. Avg.         3.300     3.486     3.509     3.666
 

The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 3,900 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data. Editors, for regional average daily fuel prices nationwide, please go to www.fuelgaugereport.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Carol Thorp or Jeffrey Spring (714) 885-2333