War worries, abundant supply keep gas prices in limbo

CAMARILLO, Calif. - Gasoline prices rose less than a third of a cent per gallon in the past two weeks as an abundant supply counterbalanced concerns about potential new conflicts in the Middle East. <br> <br> Friday&#39;s weighted price per gallon for all grades and taxes was $1.15, up 0.31 cent per gallon from Feb. 8, according to the Lundberg survey of 8,000 gas stations nationwide. <br> <br> Prices Friday averaged $1.12 a gallon for self-serve regular, less than a penny higher than two weeks ago, analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday. <br> <br> Prices tended to rise west of the Rockies, while many motorists in the rest of the country paid less, she said. <br> <br> Gas prices have remained stable overall through the beginning of 2002 because two market factors are canceling each other out, Lundberg said. <br> <br> &#34;The possibility of conflict in the Mideast is pulling prices up, while at the same time, pulling down prices are plentiful supplies of crude oil and gasoline,&#34; she said. <br> <br> Recent tough talk by President Bush over Iraq has fueled concerns about impending military action there, although there is broad agreement among analysts that the United States is not about to launch an attack against Iraq. <br> <br> The national weighted average price of gasoline, including taxes, at self-serve pumps Friday was about $1.22 per gallon for mid-grade and $1.31 for premium. <br> <br> <br>

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