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AAA Hoosier Motor Club Gas Gauge
(Aug. 27, 2008)

National Unleaded Retail Gas Price Averages

Indiana’s Unleaded Retail Gas Price Averages

Highest Recorded Price:

Market Overview
Today marks the 39^th consecutive day of declining gas prices in the U.S. but the possibility of a continuation of that trend is somewhat questionable.

While the energy markets would normally be looking ahead to the seasonal expiration of summer boutique fuel requirements in September - and the somewhat lower refining costs that come with the relaxation of those requirements - the extra-added price relief this would typically bring to the marketplace is being offset by three factors.

The first is Hurricane Gustav, which is believed to be heading for the Texas Gulf coast and the oil infrastructure in that region. It is estimated that approximately 20 percent of U.S. oil production is in the path of that storm, which is still a few days away from reaching U.S. shores.

The second factor is the continuing tension between Russia, the United States and Europe over Russia’s entry into Georgia, and the United States’ agreement with Poland to base its missile defense system in that country. This situation influences energy prices because Russia is a major energy supplier to Europe.

Thirdly, the recent rally of the American dollar – which should be of significant help in pushing oil and gasoline prices lower - has not been thoroughly convincing to some investors. While recent upward dollar movement against the Euro and the Pound has been positive for America’s currency, there is some disagreement as to why it has happened. Some believe it is because European economies have started to slip and their prospects for growth are no longer stronger than those in America. Others contend foreign central banks may be indirectly buying large amounts of American currency to help protect their dollar-denominated investments and the competitiveness of their exports. While this is a very complicated subject, a failure by oil prices to move below $110 per barrel probably means oil is still being looked to by investors as a hedge against further dollar difficulties, as well as inflation.    


AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report
Current nationwide (www.fuelgaugereport.com), individual state (State-by-State Averages) and Indiana metropolitan (Indiana Metro Averages) gas price averages can always be found online at AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. The report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service, the nation’s most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information. AAA purchases the data and makes it available free on the Internet as a public service. Average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250 localities are available for all grades of gasoline, making the site the most current and complete public source of fuel price information.

The Spanish language version of the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, Galga De Gasolina can be accessed at www.galgadegasolina.com.


AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator
In order to help Americans establish travel budgets while making vacation plans, AAA and Oil Price Information Service have combined to offer an online tool that will help travelers estimate the cost of gasoline they will use during long-distance driving vacations. The site can be found at www.fuelcostcalculator.com.


Indiana’s Gas Gouging Hotline
The Indiana attorney general established a gas gouging hotline early in 2004 for people who feel that local gas stations are charging unfair prices. That telephone number is (866) 241-9753.
 

Tips for Stretching a Tank of Gas

According to recent statistics, a neglected car can increase fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent. Individual driving habits also make a difference. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that practicing fuel efficient driving techniques can improve fuel mileage by more than 10 percent.

• Check tire pressure regularly. Under inflated tires can cause fuel consumption to increase by 6 percent. Radial tires can be under inflated and still look normal.
• Keep your suspension and steering in proper alignment and make sure your brakes are properly adjusted to minimize rolling resistance.
• Change your motor oil as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Replace the air filter. An air filter clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off air to your engine and creates a “rich” mixture—meaning too much gas is being burned for the amount of air. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by up to 10 percent.
• Inspect the gas cap. It’s estimated that nearly 17 percent of vehicles on the road today have gas caps that are damaged, loose or missing. Without the proper seal of a gas cap, fuel is simply wasted through vaporizing.
• Change your spark plugs regularly. A vehicle can have four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as 3 million times every 1,000 miles. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel.
• Don't use premium fuel if your car doesn’t require it. The expense is not necessary.
• Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, each 5 mph driven above 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon of gas.
• Use your overdrive gears during highway driving. This decreases your car’s engine speed, reducing fuel consumption and engine wear.
• Take advantage of cruise control features to help you maintain a constant speed when traveling on highways.
• Avoid hard acceleration and drive defensively; try to brake and accelerate smoothly.
• Idling unnecessarily wastes fuel.
• Combine errands. Plan your day so you can run multiple errands in one trip. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multi-purpose trip covering the same distance.
• If possible, take advantage of carpools or ride-share programs.
• Take a load off your wheels. An extra 100 pounds can cut fuel efficiency by 2 percent.
• Travel light. A loaded roof rack can decrease fuel economy by 5 percent.

AAA

AAA Hoosier Motor Club is a fully tax-paying, not-for-profit corporation that offers a wide range of services. The 405,000-member affiliate of the American Automobile Association (AAA) works for the improvement of motoring and traveling conditions within its 50-county Indiana territory. AAA is the largest motoring and traveling organization in the world with more than 51 million members.

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