SAN FRANCISCO – The latest report from AAA Northern California finds most gas prices throughout the state are on a slow, downward trend. Most of the metro areas where AAA tracks gas prices in Northern California have their average prices hovering around the $3.00 a gallon mark. All but one of those areas has seen decreases in its average price since AAA’s last survey.
 
“Although gas prices are trickling down in California, market optimism about the possibility of an improving economy, and thus, an increased demand for oil, has led to a slight increase in the average national price over the past few days.” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja.
 
According to the latest report from AAA Northern California, which tracks gasoline prices as a service to consumers, California’s average gas price is the third highest among all 50 states. The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is averaging $3.02, down 9 cents since last month’s report on September 8. For perspective, that’s 45 cents less than California’s average price on this date last year, when it was $3.47.
 
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.02, down 10 cents from last month. In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $3.16, a 3 cent drop. The national average price of $2.48 is down by 10 cents, which is still 73 cents cheaper than the national price on this date last year, when it was $3.21.
 
Over the past few days, the primary factor behind rising oil prices appears to be optimism among commodities investors that a global economic recovery is developing. Contrary to this view is government data from last week, which showed gasoline stocks were higher than originally anticipated. This may indicate that demand is down and a recovery could be delayed.
 
“For consumers, keeping a proper perspective is always the key when looking at where gas prices are going,” said Skryja. “Investors are constantly chasing daily economic and consumer demand data as indicators of how much oil they should buy on the market. But for consumers, a long term view is more helpful, because it allows for daily fluctuations that don’t necessarily have much impact on the price at the pump.”
 
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville where unleaded is $2.79. Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka and Yreka have the highest average price at $3.29, which is also the highest price in the lower 48 states. Tahoe City is close behind with an average price of $3.28.

The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Springfield, Missouri where the average price of gas is $2.21. Wailuku, Hawaii, holds the crown for the highest average price in the nation, with $3.63 per gallon.
 
AAA Monthly Gas Price Averages: October 13, 2009
 
City/State/Region     Price     Monthly Change     City/State/Region     Price     Monthly Change
NATIONAL         2.48     -    .10     SAN MATEO     3.14     -    .07
CALIFORNIA     3.02     -    .09     SAN RAFAEL     3.13     -    .01
N. CALIFORNIA     3.02     -    .10     SANTA CRUZ     3.02     -    .10
BAY AREA         3.16     -    .03     SANTA ROSA     3.06     -    .06
CHICO         2.89     -    .18     STOCKTON     2.92     -    .14
CONCORD         3.03     -    .12     TAHOE CITY     3.28     -    .02
EUREKA         3.29     -    .06     TRACY     2.97     -    .09
FREMONT         2.99     -    .09     UKIAH     3.03     -    .06
FRESNO         2.97     -    .18     VALLEJO     3.01     -    .09
MARYSVILLE     2.79     -    .25     YREKA     3.29     +   .02
MODESTO         2.92     -    .14     Elsewhere…           
MONTEREY         3.07     -    .08     LAS VEGAS     2.62     -    .10
OAKLAND         3.08     -    .07     LOS ANGELES     3.02     -    .07
PLEASANTON     3.10     -    .06     NEW YORK CITY     2.75     -    .15
REDDING         2.93     -    .18     WASHINGTON, DC     2.55     -    .10
SACRAMENTO     2.94     -    .14                 
SALINAS         2.94     -    .15                 
SAN FRANCISCO     3.17     -    .02                 
SAN JOSE         3.04     -    .08                 
 
One way consumers can reduce the amount of money they spend on fuel is to shop aggressively for the lowest price. The AAA Gas Price Finder makes it easy to locate low gas prices at home and when traveling. This online tool provides updated price information for more than 85,000 gas stations throughout the United States and Canada. Start saving today at www.aaa.com/gasprices .
       
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 85,000 self-serve stations surveyed everyday nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express LLC.