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AAA Hoosier Motor Club Gas Gauge
(Aug. 6, 2008)

National Unleaded Retail Gas Price Averages

Indiana’s Unleaded Retail Gas Price Averages

Highest Recorded Price:

Retail Gas Price Averages (Indiana Metro)
Updated average prices for unleaded retail gasoline in some Indiana metro areas can be found online through AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report site. Please click on View Indiana Metro Areas.


Retail Gas Price Averages (State-by-State)
Updated state-by-state unleaded retail gasoline price averages can be found online through AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report site. Please click on
View State-by-State Averages.


Market Overview
Nationwide self-serve regular gasoline prices are continuing to drop back and while some commentators are asking why they haven’t fallen even faster than they have over the last three weeks, given a crude oil price that is approximately 25 percent lower than on July 11 when it reached a record of $147 per barrel, the rate of decline in gasoline prices is nevertheless impressive.

Since crude oil is now trading below $120 per barrel in the face of continuing negative news about Iran’s nuclear program and minor disruptions in oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico due to Hurricane Edouard, it is reasonable to assume oil prices could fall even more and that gasoline prices will follow suit as summer draws to an end.

One missing variable that could encourage even lower crude oil prices is a stronger U.S. dollar. As energy and other commodity prices have moved lower in the past two weeks, the dollar has begun to strengthen somewhat against the Euro and other currencies. Consumers should not look for a major change in currency exchange rates, however, since the American economy still faces huge structural issues related to home prices, a weak banking system and high levels of government and consumer debt.

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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