Gas Prices Soar 14.3 Cents in Beaumont; Average is $3.69 a Gallon

HOUSTON (AP) - Retail gasoline prices soared to new record highs across Texas this week, including a 14.3 cent a gallon increase in Beaumont, where the average is $3.69 a gallon, according to a weekly survey released Friday.

The AAA Texas survey found regular self-serve averaged $3.68 per gallon in the 11 cities covered by the survey, 15 cents higher than last week's record high. Nationally, the average price rose 13 cents to a new record of $3.78 per gallon.

Auto club spokeswoman Rose Rougeau said that could keep some off the highways during the coming Memorial Day holiday who might otherwise be traveling.

"Record gas prices and tough economic times appear to be forcing some Americans to stay home this holiday," she said. "the number of people traveling in the U.S. this Memorial Day is expected to drop by less than one percent compared to last year."

The most expensive gasoline in Texas was found in Amarillo, where the average spiked 13 cents from last week to $3.71 per gallon. The cheapest gas was in El Paso, where prices soared 14 cents to $3.63 per gallon.

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These are average per-gallon prices of regular, self-serve gasoline in Texas and nationally, as well as the change from last week, according to the AAA Texas Weekend Gas Watch released Friday:

Amarillo - $3.707, up 13.0 cents

Austin-San Marcos - $3.673, up 14.1 cents

Beaumont - $3.690, up 14.3 cents

Corpus Christi - $3.691, up 17.0 cents

Dallas - $3.694, up 15.8 cents

El Paso - $3.631, up 14.4 cents

Fort Worth - $3.695, up 15.9 cent

Galveston-Texas City - $3.653, up 10.7 cents

Houston - $3.651, up 13.0 cents

San Antonio - $3.655, up 14.9 cents

Texarkana (Texas only) - $3.683, up 14.5 cents

State - $3.683, up 14.7 cents

Nationally - $3.776, up 13.1 cents

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)