AAA Texas' Weekend Gas Watch; Gas Prices for Memorial Day Holiday.

Business Editors/Automotive and Travel Writers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2002

Memorial Day travelers will be shelling out less money at the pumps this holiday, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by AAA Texas. The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.

Fuel prices in all major cities in Texas declined compared to the prior week. Corpus Christi motorists saw the biggest drop. They're paying an average of $1.294 a gallon for regular self-serve, down nearly 2 cents since last week. In Houston, the average is $1.359, down 1.3 cents since a week ago. In Dallas, it's $1.372 for regular self-serve, down 0.5 cent. San Antonio still has the least expensive gasoline at $1.276 a gallon, down a penny.

"The lower gas prices are an incentive for motorists to travel," said Rose Rougeau, AAA Texas spokesperson. "Travel by automobile for Memorial Day holiday will be up by 2 percent compared to a year ago since gas prices are 20-30 cents lower."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m., May 24, 2002:

                                      Change from
      Area              Regular        last week        Record Price
-------------------     -------       -----------     ----------------
Austin - San Marcos      $1.302        - 0.1 cent     $1.538 (5/15/01)
Corpus Christi           $1.294        - 1.6 cents    $1.505 (5/8/01)
Dallas                   $1.372        - 0.5 cent     $1.666 (5/12/01)
Ft. Worth                $1.368        - 0.4 cent     $1.660 (5/22/01)
Houston                  $1.359        - 1.3 cents    $1.639 (5/12/01)
San Antonio              $1.276        - 1.2 cents    $1.498 (5/9/01)

AAA Texas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, has been serving Texans since 1902. Today, AAA Texas' members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, trip planning services, and traffic safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on AAA Texas' Web site at www.aaa-texas.com.