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Gas Prices Drip Down A Penny

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

June 16, 2006
Good news. The average price of regular unleaded gasoline has dropped a penny to $2.89 a gallon. Hey, it may not be much but at least it's a small move in the right direction.

Midgrade and premium gasoline are both down a penny as well. Midgrade is selling for an average of $3.07 a gallon, while premium commands an average of $3.18 a gallon.

Diesel is up slightly selling for an average of $2.98 a gallon. That is the highest price for diesel this month.

Drivers in California continue to pay the most for gasoline. In Coronado, California regular unleaded is selling for $3.69 a gallon.

Clemson, South Carolina enjoys the cheapest gasoline in the country at $2.49 a gallon.

Here is a look at some gasoline prices from around the country.

Texas: Gas prices in Houston increased less than a cent over since June 9. AAA reported the average price in Houston is $2.93 a gallon for regular unleaded, up from $2.92.

The statewide average is $2.83, up from $2.82 the week before.

"Gasoline prices have been drifting up and down for the past several weeks," said Rose Rougeau, spokeswoman for AAA. "While we are in the summer driving season, this is also the time when refineries produce at high levels and imports of gasoline increase. Barring any supply disruptions, prices are expected to stay around or near these current levels."

The lowest prices reported are in Corpus Christi where a gallon sells for $2.65. The highest prices reported are in the Galveston-Texas City area, the area nearest to the refineries, where a gallon sells for $2.93.

Arizona: For the first time in a month gas prices Valleywide are below $3 a gallon, according to AAA Arizona.

Scottsdale was the lone holdout and finally on Thursday, the city's average pump price fell below that level to $2.99 per gallon.

The only major community in Arizona now paying more than $3 is Flagstaff.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular unleaded Friday was $2.95, down more than 14 cents from mid-April.

The lower prices are welcome news to drivers, however, Arizonans are still paying more for gas than we did a year ago, when the statewide average was $2.24 per gallon.

California: Gas prices have dropped a few pennies in recent days -- and about 11 cents during the past month in the Sacramento region, according to AAA.

The average price is $3.15 per gallon for regular unleaded, compared to $3.26 a month ago, when prices reached a record.

Last year, the price was $2.27 a gallon.

California's average price is $3.25, 13 cents lower than a month ago -- but much more than the $2.36 last year, AAA reported. The state's record price was $3.38 on May 18.

California drivers paid $132 million more for gasoline this spring than those in other parts of the nation, raising new questions about market manipulation, according to a report released by the California Energy Commission.

The analysis found that prices in California spiked 60 cents per gallon above those in New York during the three weeks ending May 9. No similar increases were reported in other parts of the country.

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