NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, July 11 2007 – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline now stands at $3.09 in Oklahoma, a jump of 23 cents per gallon since June 20, according to AAA.

“ Oklahoma normally has one of the lowest gas price averages in the country,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “But today, 33 states have averages below ours. In fact, 22 states still have price averages below $3 per gallon.”

Today, for the first time since June 19, the national average for self-serve regular gasoline hit $3.00. A month ago the average was $3.08 and a year ago, it stood at $2.97.

Reasons given by analysts for this reversal in retail prices are continued strong demand, the high price of crude oil and continuing problems at the nation’s refineries.

“With relatively high inventories of crude oil, the mystery is why the price of crude is still above $71 per barrel on the futures market,” said Mai. “The market appears to be reacting to perceived threats to the level of supply coming into the U.S. from Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela and others, rather than to present realities.”

Among Oklahoma’s neighbors, Texas reports a gas price average of $2.89, Arkansas $2.90, Missouri $2.97, Colorado $3.14, Kansas $3.17 and New Mexico $3.21.

The least expensive gas in the country is now in South Carolina, which reports a price average today of $2.78, followed by New Jersey at $2.81. Hawaii has the nation’s costliest gasoline at $3.29, followed by Nebraska at $3.24 and Michigan $3.23.

AAA reminds motorists the easiest, most effective ways to get more miles from fuel dollars are to keep tires properly inflated, drive with a clean air filter, keep your vehicle in tune and combine errands. Also, watch your speed. The wind resistance your vehicle must overcome is actually twice as great at 75 mph as it is at 55 mph.