Phoenix, Ariz., January 16, 2009. Arizona Cardinals fans heading to University of Phoenix Stadium and viewing parties across the state to watch their team vie for the National Football Conference title this weekend will pay more to fill their tanks as the price of gasoline increases for the second straight week. Statewide, motorists are paying an average of $1.785 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, an increase of ten cents from last week and the largest weekly jump in fuel prices since mid-June 2008. Tucson drivers have reclaimed the state’s lowest fuel price with an average of $1.713 per gallon, while Flagstaff drivers are paying the most for fuel in the state with an average of $1.878 per gallon. The national average for fuel is $1.816, an increase of a little more than three pennies from last week.

This week, the price of crude oil continued to retreat from its early January high of nearly $50 per barrel. Yesterday, cuts to world consumption and oil demand forecasts by the Department of Energy and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) pushed the price of the commodity down to a three-month low. However, despite the drop in crude prices, the price of fuel has continued its upswing across the state.

“While the price of crude oil has subsided from nearly $50 per barrel earlier this month, the price of fuel in Arizona has continued to increase. This is a result of tightened supplies and inventories across the state,” said Linda Gorman, public affairs director for AAA Arizona. “While this situation is being addressed and monitored, statewide supplies are going to be tight until it is remedied. At this point, it is too soon to tell when that will be. However, until that occurs, Arizona drivers are likely to continue to see a price disparity between the cost of crude and the price at the pump.”

The cheapest gasoline in the lower 48 states can be found in Wyoming, where unleaded regular is $1.473 per gallon. California motorists are paying the most for fuel in the country with an average of $2.047 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.