Copyright 2000 Phoenix Newspapers, Inc.
THE ARIZONA
REPUBLIC
September 9, 2000 Saturday, Final Chaser
SECTION: VALLEY & STATE; Pg. B5
LENGTH: 266 words
HEADLINE:
DESPITE SUMMER'S END, GAS PRICES STILL RISING
BYLINE: By Bob Petrie, The Arizona Republic
BODY:
Despite the end of the summer driving season,
gasoline prices continue to soar in Arizona.
The statewide average price
of unleaded self-serve regular jumped 3 cents in the past week, to $1.567 per
gallon, according to AAA-Arizona. That's 2 cents higher than the national
average of $1.547. It's the sixth straight week Arizona prices have been above
the national average.
Low fuel inventories, coupled with record-high
crude oil prices, are being blamed. The price of crude reached a 10-year high of
$34.60 per barrel this week and stood at $33.50 on Thursday.
AAA-Arizona
spokeswoman Laura Rightenburg said the increase was surprising, noting that
demand for gasoline and the price of it usually drop after Labor Day.
Rightenburg said the last big spike in prices is usually on Labor Day
weekend, but "unfortunately that's not the case" this year.
In Phoenix,
average gas prices are $1.507 per gallon, but prices vary throughout the Valley.
The lowest average prices are in the East Valley, at $1.47, though a
number of Mesa stations are selling gasoline for less than $1.40 a gallon. West
Valley prices average $1.474. Prices are highest in Scottsdale and Fountain
Hills, averaging $1.56.
In Tucson, prices are averaging $1.494.
For much of the summer, Arizona drivers had been enjoying prices well
below the national average. The current national survey shows the lowest average
price is in Georgia at $1.389, followed by South Carolina at $1.399 and
Tennessee at $1.433.
The highest average prices are in California at
$1.821, Nevada at $1.813 and Washington at $1.719.
LOAD-DATE: September 21, 2000
