Phoenix, Ariz., March 18, 2009. While temperatures across the state are rising, prices at the pump are falling, as Arizona motorists experience their fourth straight week of cheaper fuel prices. Statewide, motorists are paying an average of $1.942 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, a decrease of more than four cents from last week and the lowest pump price the statewide average has achieved in six weeks. Tucson drivers are continuing to pay the state’s lowest fuel price with an average of $1.804 per gallon, while Flagstaff drivers continue to pay the state’s highest fuel price with an average of $2.125 per gallon. The current nationwide average has declined by nearly two pennies this week to $1.920 per gallon.

Early this week, positive economic news by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke resulted in a price rally that sent crude oil to the high $40-per barrel range and caused a slight up tick in wholesale fuel costs. However, prices at the pump have remained fairly stable as a result of the impact that the economy has had on fuel demand. Another factor contributing to stabilizing pump prices is the outcome of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) March 15 meeting in which the cartel left current production quotas unchanged, after reportedly cutting production by 4 millions barrels per day since September.

 “Over the last four weeks, prices at the pump have been relatively stable with a slight downward movement from week to week,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs director for AAA Arizona. “In fact, Arizona motorists are currently paying 10 cents less per gallon than they were last month and $1.292 less per gallon than they were this time last year when crude oil was trading at more than twice its current levels.”

“Should current market factors persist, the stabilization and further descent of pump prices are also likely to persist in the coming weeks,” added Gorman.  

 The cheapest gasoline in the lower 48 states can be found in Wyoming, where unleaded regular is $1.743 per gallon. California motorists are continuing to pay the most for fuel in the country with an average of $2.160 per gallon.

Motorists can visit www.AAAAZ.com/news/fuelnews.htm for fuel price information and gas saving tips or go to www.AAA.com/fuelfinder to locate the station with the cheapest gas in their neighborhood. 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.

*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.

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