LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - December 21, 2007) - Holiday travelers will be paying less for gas than they were a month ago during the Thanksgiving holiday. But despite four straight weeks of drops, pump prices are still 60 to 70 cents higher than they were during the Christmas-New Year's holiday period last year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.246, which is 4 cents lower than last week, 15 cents under last month, and 66 cents more than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.272, which is 3.8 cents less than last week's price, 15 cents down from last month, and 62 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.371, down 1.9 cents from last week, 13 cents below last month, and 58 cents more than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $3.231, 4.2 cents under last week, 17 cents below last month, and 63 cents higher than last year.
"As Christmas travelers hit the road this weekend, their holiday trips on average will cost $10 to $20 more for gasoline than they did last year," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "But if current price trends continue, drivers in Southern California could see some gas station prices dip below $3 before the end of the year."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., Dec. 21:
Area Regular One-week Record Price
change
Los Angeles - Long $3.246 - 4 cents $3.487 (5/9/2007)
Beach
Orange County $3.193 - 4.8 cents $3.479 (5/8/2007)
San Diego $3.272 - 3.8 cents $3.503 (5/8/2007)
Santa Barbara - Santa $3.371 - 1.9 cents $3.614 (5/15/2007)
Maria - Lompoc
Riverside - San $3.231 - 4.2 cents $3.486 (5/8/2007)
Bernardino
Bakersfield $3.248 - 3.4 cents $3.489 (5/7/2007)
Las Vegas, NV $3.074 - 1 cent $3.209 (5/29/2007)
Contact Information: Contact: Marie Montgomery/Jeffrey Spring (714) 885-2333