Dec 21, 2007 8:16 am US/Pacific
Gasoline Prices Fall For Fourth Straight Week
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (CBS) ―
The price of unleaded regular in the Inland Empire fell this week for the fourth consecutive week and could dip under $3 a gallon by year's end, but Christmas holiday trips will still cost travelers $10 to $20 more in gasoline than last year, the Auto Club said on Friday.
The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular fell 4.2 cents in Riverside and San Diego counties this week to $3.231 -- 16.1 cents less than when prices stopped rising a month ago, but 63 cents more than at this time last year and 49.3 cents higher than on Aug. 31, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.
Prices fell for the 14th time in 16 weeks during the week that ended Aug. 31, but that was followed by 12 consecutive weeks of increases, ending when the average price of regular unleaded fell 2.5 cents from Nov. 23-30. The average price fell 5.4 cents from Nov. 30-Dec. 7 and 4.5 cents from Dec. 7-14.
"As Christmas travelers hit the road this weekend, their holiday trips on average will cost $10 to $20 more for gasoline than they did last year," said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring.
"But if current price trends continue, drivers in Southern California could see some gas station prices dip below $3 before the end of the year."
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