NorthwestJanuary 1, 2004

Tribune and Associated Press

BOISE -- The average price of unleaded gasoline in Idaho rose fractionally on the final day of 2003, but the pump price was still more than two cents lower than it was just two weeks ago.

The American Automobile Association reported the average Idaho price for self-service unleaded was just under $1.59 a gallon on the final day of 2003.

That compared to $1.61 a week before Christmas and $1.65 just before Thanksgiving.

In the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, gasoline prices were lower than the average price around the state Wednesday.

The Chevron Dyna-Mart on 21st Street in Lewiston was selling regular unleaded for $1.52 per gallon. Other prices include $1.49 per gallon at the Liberty Mart in North Lewiston and $1.52 at the Sunset Mart on Bryden. The Stinker station in Lewiston Orchards was at $1.49.

In Clarkston, Jim's Express Mart and Zip Trip on Bridge Street were charging $1.53 per gallon for unleaded Wednesday. The Conoco station in Asotin was at $1.56.

The Cenex station and Sunset Mart on U.S. Highway 95 south of Moscow were both at $1.49 per gallon Wednesday.

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"It's not unusual to see our lowest gasoline prices in January, February and March," said Dave Carlson of the AAA's Idaho chapter. "Demand is probably down and retailers are adjusting prices to reflect that."

It was a quarter a gallon less than the record set in September but still the seventh highest price in the nation. A year ago, Idaho's average pump price was under $1.46, barely a penny higher than the national average at the time.

Across the country, the average price also ticked up fractionally on the final day of the year to nearly $1.48 1/2 a gallon and was more than a penny higher than it was two weeks ago.

The lack of effective competition, especially in Idaho's rural communities, has been cited by analysts as contributing to the state's comparatively higher price.

Only Alaska, Hawaii, California, Connecticut, Nevada and New York had higher averages than Idaho.

The price decline in Idaho was again centered in the southern part of the state. The average in the Coeur d'Alene area was nearly $1.63, up almost a penny from two weeks ago.

But pump prices in southwestern Idaho, the state's population center, were down more than a penny to under $1.59 a gallon, and the average was more than four cents lower in the Pocatello area at $1.51.

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