---

Gas Prices Up From Fourth of July 1998, AAA Announces

30 June 1999

Gas Prices Up From Fourth of July 1998, AAA Announces

    BELLEVUE, Wash., June 29 -- The average price of self-serve
regular unleaded gasoline in central and western Washington for this Fourth of
July weekend is $1.366 per gallon, 24 cents higher than last Fourth of July,
and 3.8 cents more than Memorial Day weekend.
    A few service stations in the Puget Sound region reported delays in fuel
shipments due to the Olympic Pipe Line explosion in Bellingham. They are back
on schedule now and don't predict any shortages for the holiday weekend.
Although the Wenatchee and Yakima areas have not experienced shipment delays,
they reported an increase in prices due to the pipeline explosion.
    Nationally, the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline
dropped 1.5 cents during the past month to $1.142 per gallon. This is 3.4
cents per gallon higher than last year at this time.
    This Fourth of July weekend, an estimated 37.4 million Americans will
travel 100 miles or more from home. Washingtonians are heading to Las Vegas,
the San Juan Islands and Victoria to celebrate this Independence Day.
    AAA Washington provides a full range of products and benefits, including
personal lines insurance, financial, leisure travel, and auto-related services
to more than 616,000 members. A not-for-profit services organization, AAA
Washington operates 13 offices in central and western Washington. More
information about AAA Washington can be found on the Internet at
http://www.aaawa.com .

    AAA Washington's Fourth of July 1999 Fuel Gauge Price Averages

      Area by Area Comparison of Self-Serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices

    City              Fourth of July     Memorial Day      Fourth of July
                           1999              1999               1998

    Bellevue              1.364              1.361             1.139
    Bellingham            1.385              1.328             1.139
    Bremerton             1.361              1.315              1.01
    Everett               1.388              1.367             1.153
    Lynnwood              1.369              1.369               N/A
    Olympia               1.358              1.353              1.13
    Renton                1.374              1.324             1.098
    Seattle               1.410              1.400              1.16
    Tacoma                1.349              1.359             1.149
    Tri-Cities            1.356              1.196             1.086
    Vancouver             1.386              1.338             1.135
    Wenatchee             1.348              1.299             1.179
    Yakima                1.316              1.260             1.123
    Averages              1.366              1.328             1.125

    CONTACT:  Janet Ray, or Jennifer Harbison of AAA Washington,
800-562-2582, ext. 002058, or 425-646-2058.