AAA Offers Fuel Saving Tips as Gas Prices Continue Record Climb

Phoenix, Ariz., April 23, 2008 – Across the state and country, motorists are continuing to drop more “green” at the pump than ever before as gasoline prices continue to shatter records during Earth Week. Arizona’s statewide average for regular unleaded gasoline is currently $3.400 per gallon, an increase of nearly six cents from last week. Tucson drivers continue to pay the state’s lowest fuel price at $3.324 per gallon, while Flagstaff drivers continue to pay the most to fill their tanks at $3.542 per gallon. Nationwide, the current average is $3.533 per gallon, a jump of over 11 cents from last week.

This week, reports of an attack on a Nigerian oil field fueled crude oil’s record run. In fact, yesterday, crude surpassed an all-time high of $120 per barrel before settling at $119.90 per barrel. This morning, the commodity fell to the $117 per barrel range after the Department of Energy alleviated supply concerns by reporting an increase in crude stockpiles.

“Unfortunately for motorists and consumers, crude oil has continued to gain momentum regardless of demand remaining flat through the first quarter of the year,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs manager for AAA Arizona. “While it is unlikely that pump prices will begin to retreat in the short-term, it is important to note, especially during Earth Week, that there are several ways motorists can curb their fuel consumption and maximize their fuel efficiency to lessen the pinch of current pump prices.”

With Arizona motorists paying 42 cents more for fuel than they were this time last year, and in honor of Earth Week, AAA Arizona would like to offer the following fuel saving tips to help motorists cope with record high pump prices:

• Carpool, telecommute, ride share or use public transportation when possible. By using an alternative mode of transportation just one day a week, you can curb your fuel consumption by as much as 20 percent.

• Keep your eyes open for low fuel prices, but do not waste gas driving to a distant station to save a few cents.  For the cheapest gas in your neighborhood, log on to www.aaaaz.com/news/fuelnews.htm and click on “Fuel Price Finder.”

• When planning a vacation, budget your fuel costs in advance by visiting AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator at www.fuelcostcalculator.com.

• If you are going somewhere new, get directions first from an online source such as AAA TripTik. Getting lost wastes gas as well as time. TripTik also includes locations and prices for over one-third of the gas stations in the country, so using this tool can help you map out convenient fuel stops along a vacation route.

• Keep up on your vehicle maintenance. A simple measure such as keeping tires properly inflated can increase gas mileage by as much as two percent.

• Follow the speed limit.  Driving any faster may get you where you want to go in less time, but it also means more trips to the gas pump. Driving 75 mph instead of 65 mph will lower your fuel economy by 10 percent. Driving 70 mph instead of 55 mph will lower your fuel economy by 17 percent.

• Travel light. Less weight means better mileage. A heavier vehicle uses more gasoline.

• Buy at the right time of day. Gas is sold by volume, which expands and contracts given the ambient temperature. By filling your tank during the cooler parts of day (early morning or late evening), you will be getting more volume per gallon.

The cheapest gasoline in the continental United States is in New Jersey, where unleaded regular is $3.341 per gallon. California drivers continue to pay the most for fuel in the country at $3.868 per gallon.

Motorists can visit www.AAAAZ.com/news for the latest fuel price information and gas saving tips and go to www.AAA.com/fuelfinder  to locate the station with the cheapest gas in their neighborhood or along their commute route.  They can also visit AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator at www.fuelcostcalculator.com, which can help drivers plan out their fuel costs so they can budget their travel expenses in advance. AAA members who use their AAA Visa credit card can get a rebate of up to five percent on gasoline purchases made at the pump. Members can also flash their AAA membership card to save at over 100 of the auto club’s Show Your Card & Save partners.  

 **The BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is the nationwide average price of E-85 adjusted to reflect the lower energy content as expressed in British Thermal Units - and hence miles per gallon - available in a gallon of E-85 as compared to the same volume of conventional gasoline. The BTU-adjusted price calculated by OPIS and AAA is not an actual retail average price paid by consumers. It is calculated and displayed as part of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report because according to the Energy Information Administration E-85 delivers approximately 25 percent fewer BTUs by volume than conventional gasoline. Because "flexible fuel" vehicles can operate on conventional fuel and E-85, the BTU-adjusted price of E-85 is essential to understanding the cost implications of each fuel choice for consumers.

AAA Arizona’s Weekly Fuel Gauge includes data from gasoline stations in every Arizona community. However, only major metropolitan areas are shown in the table above.  Local prices in some communities might be higher or lower than the averages shown here.

NOTE: AAA Fuel Gauge data may be used on a daily basis by news media Web sites, but should include attribution to AAA.