Average Monthly Gas Price Jumps 20 Cents, Says Auto Club

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - October 16, 2007) - The overall average monthly gas price for Southern California increased for the first time since May and posted a 19.7 cent jump, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California September average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $3.067, up nearly 20 cents from Sept. 11 and 43 cents higher than the same time last year.

"We're seeing the same litany of concerns by traders that often pushes prices up, including Middle East unrest, reduction in oil inventories nationally and higher oil prices," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Although the overall pump price average to date this year is only 10 cents higher than the average from January to October of 2006, prices moved up firmly in the last 30 days."

In California, the average price for October is $3.069, up 20.3 cents from $2.866 in September. The state's lowest average price is in Glendora, where regular sells for $2.945. Tahoe City has the state's highest average at $3.286.

Nationally, the average price is $2.759, down 5.5 cents from $2.814 in September. New Jersey has the lowest average price, at $2.527.

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

                              Reg        Reg        Pre        Pre
County/City                10-16-07    9-11-07   10-16-07    9-11-07
Imperial County
El Centro                    3.128      2.986      3.279      3.229

Inyo County
Bishop                       3.047      2.995      3.249      3.226

Kern County
Bakersfield                  3.017      2.784      3.217      3.008
Ridgecrest                   3.075      2.864      3.299      3.059

Los Angeles County
Alhambra                     2.968      2.744      3.159      2.936
Arcadia                      3.011      2.801      3.219      3.079
Burbank                      3.057      2.857      3.264      3.052
Culver City                  3.129      2.954      3.294      3.079
Glendale                     3.052      2.867      3.231      3.065
Glendora                     2.945      2.713      3.137      2.907
Inglewood                    3.009      2.801      3.199      2.989
Lancaster                    3.136      2.921      3.346      3.143
Long Beach                   2.961      2.747      3.182      2.929
Los Angeles                  3.066      2.860      3.276      3.049
Manhattan Beach              3.128      2.902      3.319      3.149
Montebello                   3.014      2.758      3.186      2.939
Santa Clarita                3.062      2.803      3.159      2.994
Santa Monica                 3.151      2.930      3.355      3.104
Van Nuys                     3.015      2.817      3.228      3.024
Whittier                     2.970      2.764      3.149      2.965
Woodland Hills               3.091      2.892      3.224      3.051

Orange County
Anaheim                      2.951      2.718      3.149      2.926
Fullerton                    2.970      2.745      3.179      2.946
Huntington Beach             2.963      2.745      3.213      2.984
La Habra                     2.951      2.727      3.154      2.927
Laguna Beach                 3.121      2.942      3.322      3.143
Newport Beach                3.093      2.861      3.286      3.083
San Clemente                 3.105      2.957      3.336      3.122
Tustin                       3.046      2.844      3.279      3.082

Riverside County
Blythe                       3.223      3.032      3.423      3.249
Hemet                        3.003      2.803      3.267      3.032
Palm Springs                 3.057      2.877      3.252      3.119
Riverside                    3.022      2.781      3.227      3.011

San Bernardino County
Redlands                     3.045      2.864      3.219      3.299
San Bernardino               3.027      2.831      3.156      2.918
Victorville                  3.066      2.871      3.259      3.019

San Diego County
Chula Vista                  3.076      2.900      3.217      3.126
Del Mar                      3.125      2.987      3.282      3.159
Escondido                    3.027      2.821      3.257      3.001
Oceanside                    3.078      2.905      3.263      3.129
San Diego                    3.085      2.906      3.293      3.129

San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo              3.268      3.145      3.532      3.459

Santa Barbara County
Lompoc                       3.145      2.852      3.459      3.044
Santa Barbara                3.214      3.062      3.459      3.212
Santa Maria                  3.139      3.072      3.359      3.339

Tulare County
Porterville                  3.132      2.849      3.119      2.899
Visalia                      3.115      2.898      3.352      3.239

Ventura County
Ventura                      3.030      2.904      3.296      3.085

So. Calif. Avg.              3.065      2.868      3.262      3.076

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 Jeffrey Spring (714) 885-2333