Pump Prices Move Down

Houston, Texas -- Motorists saw slight relief this week as pump prices in Texas moved lower after eight weeks of near record averages, according to AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch. The cities of Amarillo, El Paso and Texarkana, Texas will be included in the weekly survey.

The statewide average price for a gallon of gas is $2.873 a gallon - a weekly drop of six cents. Corpus Christi has the cheapest fuel at $2.749 a gallon - a decrease of ten cents. El Paso, which set a new all-time record last week, has the highest average on the list at $2.936 a gallon.

"A major factor for the easing of gas prices is that U.S. oil inventories are currently at healthy levels, despite the lofty price of crude this year," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas. "The end of the summer driving season is getting closer and that is usually when demand for gasoline drops," said Rose Rougeau, spokesperson for AAA Texas.

The national average for regular self-serve gasoline fell below $3.00 a gallon this week to its current average of $2.977 - down six cents from last week.

AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline in Texas.

Average Daily Prices as of 12:01 AM, August 18, 2006:

Area
8/17/06
WeeklyChange
8/10/06
Record High
2005Average

National
$2.977

+ 3.5 cents

$3.001
$3.057 (9/5/05)
$2.376

State
$2.873

+ 2.3 cents

$2.914
$2.964 (9/4/05)
$2.300

Austin - San Marcos
$2.910

+ 2.9 cents

$2.881
$2.918 (9/6/05)
$2.259

Amarillo
2.919
NA
NA
3.035 (8/7/06)
$2.514

Beaumont
$2.841

+ 2.8 cents

$2.873
$2.930 (9/4/05)
$2.265

Corpus Christi
$2.749

+ 0.4 cents

$2.849
$2.929 (9/3/05)
$2.276

Dallas
$2.859

+ 0.5 cents

$2.919
$3.019 (9/4/05)
$2.345

El Paso
$2.936
NA
NA
$3.012 (8/5/06)
2.427

Ft. Worth
$2.851

+ 1.1 cents

$2.919
$3.012 (9/4/05)
$2.334

Galveston - Texas City
$2.889

+ 0.1 cents

$2.928
$2.997 (9/4/05)
$2.302

Houston
$2.859

+ 0.2 cents

$2.923
$2.971 (9/6/05)
$2.302

San Antonio
$2.827

+ 2.9 cents

$2.840
$2.909 (9/4/05)
$2.256

Texarkana (TX only)
2.788
NA
NA
$2.960 (8/7/06)
$2.474