LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - July 17, 2007) - The average monthly price of gasoline in Southern California has dropped for the second consecutive month, bringing some Southern California communities closer to going below the $3 average, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California June average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $3.150, down 15 cents from June 12 and nearly 34 cents from the all-time record high of $3.486 set in May.

"Despite a small upward tick last week, the average price for the month is still down compared to June and also to last year when we were paying about $3.31 per gallon on average as a region," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Due to refinery problems in the Midwest state gasoline markets, Nebraska and Illinois are tied for the nation's highest state average of $3.310. California, which usually leads the country in gas prices, currently sits below the averages of 14 other states."

In California, the average price for July is $3.151, down from $3.301 in June. The state's lowest average prices are in La Habra, where regular sells for $2.962. Eureka has the state's highest average at $3.417.

Nationally, the average price is $3.040, down nearly three cents from June. South Carolina has the lowest average price, at $2.821.

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

County/City                    Reg 7-17    Reg 6-12    Pre 7-17    Reg 6-12
------------------             --------    --------    --------    --------
Imperial County
El Centro                         3.370       3.432       3.399       3.699

Inyo County
Bishop                            3.134       3.188       3.353       3.399

Kern County
Bakersfield                       3.126       3.184       3.352       3.369
Ridgecrest                        3.169       3.279       3.388       3.480

Los Angeles County
Alhambra                          3.079       3.252       3.312       3.412
Arcadia                           3.122       3.302       3.399       3.577
Burbank                           3.146       3.281       3.364       3.492
Culver City                       3.189       3.359       3.479       3.569
Glendale                          3.153       3.328       3.346       3.554
Glendora                          3.019       3.229       3.238       3.425
Inglewood                         3.094       3.235       3.306       3.446
Lancaster                         3.195       3.333       3.404       3.537
Long Beach                        3.038       3.214       3.221       3.425
Los Angeles                       3.161       3.329       3.355       3.526
Manhattan Beach                   3.194       3.368       3.499       3.649
Montebello                        3.058       3.205       3.277       3.429
Santa Clarita                     3.106       3.239       3.322       3.389
Santa Monica                      3.177       3.346       3.499       3.674
Van Nuys                          3.117       3.258       3.286       3.453
Whittier                          3.022       3.221       3.192       3.372
Woodland Hills                    3.174       3.294       3.319       3.456

Orange County
Anaheim                           3.000       3.212       3.204       3.412
Fullerton                         2.996       3.182       3.215       3.414
Huntington Beach                  3.039       3.187       3.272       3.382
La Habra                          2.962       3.163       3.179       3.372
Laguna Beach                      3.299       3.454       3.499       3.697
Newport Beach                     3.154       3.333       3.361       3.579
San Clemente                      3.205       3.337       3.406       3.549
Tustin                            3.131       3.335       3.329       3.574

Riverside County
Blythe                            3.408       3.521       3.602       3.699
Hemet                             3.068       3.206       3.269       3.451
Palm Springs                      3.116       3.276       3.334       3.509
Riverside                         3.033       3.237       3.269       3.439

San Bernardino County
Redlands                          3.136       3.272       3.449       3.584
San Bernardino                    3.086       3.220       3.272       3.416
Victorville                       3.077       3.197       3.264       3.429

San Diego County
Chula Vista                       3.168       3.271       3.277       3.441
Del Mar                           3.229       3.436       3.419       3.579
Escondido                         3.098       3.214       3.322       3.419
Oceanside                         3.153       3.300       3.355       3.575
San Diego                         3.132       3.262       3.299       3.480

San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo                   3.347       3.485       3.566       3.659

Santa Barbara County
Lompoc                            3.190       3.439       3.579       3.671
Santa Barbara                     3.354       3.470       3.699       3.634
Santa Maria                       3.348       3.480       3.609       3.739

Tulare County
Porterville                       3.263       3.372       3.199       3.379
Visalia                           3.192       3.363       3.422       3.512

Ventura County
Ventura                           3.156       3.293       3.352       3.500

So. Calif. Average             $  3.150    $  3.300    $  3.361    $  3.509

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