AAA Texas: Gas Prices Reverse Course, Start Dropping Again

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire - September 25, 2008) - The average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline fell by more than 10 cents in Texas compared to last week, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. The state average of $3.598 is more than a dime lower than the national average, which also decreased by 13 cents to $3.700.

In Houston gas averages $3.541, down 15.1 cents from last week. That is still below the national and state averages. Dallas reports a price of $3.644 a gallon, a decrease of 5.6 cents since last week.

Amarillo, at $3.391, has the least expensive average price compared to other metropolitan areas in the state. Reporting the highest price in the state is Texarkana at $3.685, followed by El Paso at $3.648.

"The hurricane and related supply issues caused a temporary spike in gas prices across the state that is now reversing itself," said AAA Texas Houston spokesperson Sarah Schimmer. "After the busy September storm season, refineries are not yet back up to 100 percent, but everyday refining capacity is improving."

Light, sweet crude oil reached a record price of $147.27 a barrel on July 11 and is currently trading in the range between $105 and $107.

            Current  1 Week  Difference Year Ago Difference Record   Record
                       Ago                                   High     High
                                                             Date     Price

           09/25/08 09/18/08 Difference 09/25/07 Difference  Date     Price
National     3.700    3.835   -0.135      2.813   +0.887    07/17/08  4.114
State        3.598    3.701   -0.103      2.716   +0.882    07/17/08  3.985
Amarillo     3.391    3.635   -0.244      2.861   +0.530    07/16/08  3.983
Austin-San
 Marcos      3.566    3.648   -0.082      2.750   +0.816    07/17/08  3.975
Beaumont     3.602    3.700   -0.098      2.728   +0.874    07/16/08  4.001
Corpus
 Christi     3.525    3.629   -0.104      2.676   +0.849    07/15/08  3.960
Dallas       3.644    3.700   -0.056      2.669   +0.975    07/16/08  3.983
El Paso      3.648    3.691   -0.043      2.860   +0.788    07/17/08  3.967
Ft. Worth    3.642    3.704   -0.062      2.663   +0.979    07/16/08  3.975
Galveston    3.564    3.641   -0.077      2.642   +0.922    07/14/08  3.968
Houston      3.541    3.692   -0.151      2.623   +0.918    07/17/08  3.960
San Antonio  3.514    3.609   -0.095      2.686   +0.828    07/16/08  3.957
Texarkana
 (TX Only)   3.685    3.784   -0.099      2.763   +0.922    07/16/08  3.981

Contact Information: Contacts: Dan Ronan - Statewide/Dallas Ronan.dan@aaa-texas.com danronan@sprint.blackberry.net 469 221 8217 office 469 583 7070 cell Sarah Schimmer - Houston Schimmer.sarah@aaa-texas.com 713-284-6552 office 281-797-7886 cell