Published: July 02, 2009 09:54 pm      

Local fuel prices below state and national average

Prices at the gasoline pump are down slightly in Texas after more than seven consecutive weeks of increases.

According to the Associated Press, AAA Texas on Thursday reported the statewide average settled at $2.53, compared to $2.55 one week ago.

The association says the nationwide gasoline average is $2.67, down 1 cent from the previous week.

Houston and San Antonio tied with the least expensive gas, at $2.49 a gallon. El Paso had the most expensive gasoline in Texas, costing $2.61.

Locally, despite recent increases, gas prices are some of the lowest in the state.

In the Orange, West Orange and Pinehurst area, a survey of 20 fuel locations revealed an average price of more than $2.38 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline. The least expensive locations included the Murphy USA store in front of Wal-Mart on Edgar Brown Drive, which advertised unleaded gasoline at $2.33 per gallon, and the Kroger location on 16th Street, which had an advertised price of $2.34 per gallon of unleaded gasoline.

A survey of 10 fuel locations in the Bridge City and Orangefield area revealed the lowest average price in Orange County at $2.36 per gallon.

In Vidor, a survey of 12 convenience store and fuel locations revealed an average price of more than $2.43 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. In Mauriceville, a survey of four fuel stops revealed an average price of more than $2.47 per gallon, which was the highest in Orange County.

As a whole, the average price of the 46 fuel locations surveyed Thursday in Orange County revealed an average price of slightly more than $2.40 per gallon.

AAA spokesman Dan Ronan says the lower prices are not expected to have a major impact on the number of people traveling over July 4 weekend.

AAA Texas is projecting about 3.2 million Texans will travel over the holiday period, about 3 percent fewer than last year, with about 2.8 million likely driving.





Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter for The Orange Leader. He can be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com