Auto Club: Gas Prices Rise Slightly From January

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 13, 2007 -- Southern California gas prices dropped by about a dime the last two weeks of January in most areas, but bounced back higher in February to post a slight increase in the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report. The Southern California average showed a three-cent gain between January and February.

The Southern California January average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $2.648, compared to $2.613 on Jan. 16. The record high price for Southern California was $3.417, set on May 16 of last year.

"Southern California is once more in its cycle of rising prices just before the more expensive 'summer blend' of fuel hits our gasoline pumps," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Last week's fire at California's fifth- largest crude oil field, Elk Hills in Bakersfield, disrupted crude supplies to the state's refineries and also contributed to the rising prices."

Statewide, the average price for February is $2.663, up from $2.635 in January. The lowest average price in the state is in La Habra, where regular is selling for $2.501, up nearly seven cents from $2.438. Tahoe City and Yreka in Northern California have the state's highest average price at $2.899.

Nationally, the average price is $2.227, down slightly from $2.229 in January. The state with the highest gas price average is Hawaii at $2.86. South Carolina has the lowest average price, at $2.047.

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

                         Feb. 13    Jan. 16    Feb. 13    Jan. 16
County/City                Reg        Reg        Reg        Prem

Imperial County
El Centro                 2.891      2.793      3.139      2.939

Inyo County
Bishop                    2.609      2.639      2.769      2.939

Kern County
Bakersfield               2.633      2.557      2.817      2.733
Ridgecrest                2.609      2.592      2.794      2.659

Los Angeles County
Alhambra                  2.554      2.576      2.799      2.729
Arcadia                   2.637      2.563      2.859      2.819
Burbank                   2.645      2.599      2.829      2.747
Culver City               2.679      2.607      2.959      2.654
Glendale                  2.628      2.615      2.839      2.846
Glendora                  2.486      2.499      2.671      2.709
Inglewood                 2.602      2.533      2.829      2.766
Lancaster                 2.687      2.675      2.892      2.892
Long Beach                2.599      2.548      2.739      2.715
Los Angeles               2.656      2.626      2.834      2.782
Manhattan Beach           2.699      2.636      2.876      2.899
Montebello                2.665      2.571      2.769      2.652
Santa Clarita             2.629      2.609      2.846      2.859
Santa Monica              2.732      2.639      2.959      2.849
Van Nuys                  2.588      2.544      2.689      2.639
Whittier                  2.538      2.515      2.732      2.739
Woodland Hills            2.643      2.583      2.843      2.779

Orange County
Anaheim                   2.503      2.457      2.696      2.589
Fullerton                 2.537      2.462      2.691      2.592
Huntington Beach          2.537      2.501      2.728      2.649
La Habra                  2.501      2.438      2.674      2.572
Laguna Beach              2.739      2.709      2.949      2.879
Newport Beach             2.643      2.609      2.827      2.809
San Clemente              2.688      2.664      2.879      2.894
Tustin                    2.611      2.583      2.839      2.784

Riverside County
Blythe                    2.817      2.819      2.929      2.909
Hemet                     2.603      2.577      2.789      2.686
Palm Springs              2.694      2.663      2.899      2.849
Riverside                 2.602      2.552      2.838      2.732

San Bernardino
 County
Redlands                  2.632      2.581      2.912      2.761
San Bernardino            2.628      2.602      2.721      2.786
Victorville               2.618      2.624      2.668      2.709

San Diego County
Chula Vista               2.655      2.605      2.871      2.856
Del Mar                   2.739      2.759      2.924      2.939
Escondido                 2.647      2.533      2.821      2.814
Oceanside                 2.650      2.632      2.862      2.759
San Diego                 2.669      2.639      2.879      2.864

San Luis Obispo
 County
San Luis Obispo           2.728      2.714      2.894      2.879

Santa Barbara County
Lompoc                    2.672      2.691      2.857      3.039
Santa Barbara             2.814      2.826      2.999      2.996
Santa Maria               2.740      2.754      2.832      2.979

Tulare County
Porterville               2.689      2.634      2.874      2.659
Visalia                   2.692      2.627      3.001      2.874

Ventura County
Ventura                   2.654      2.648      2.856      2.858

So. Calif. Average        2.648      2.613      2.837      2.793

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: Marie Montgomery/Carol Thorp (714) 885-2333