€ Alaska North Slope crude oil prices as of: March 4, 2004, $34.90/barrel; Jan. 5, 2004, 32.65; June 2, 2003; 29.41; March 4, 2003, 36.54 and Jan. 2, 2003, 30.55.

€ The U.S. Department of Energy is monitoring gasoline supplies and prices; residents can assist by logging on to the Internet anytime at http://gaswatch.energy.gov. A toll-free number, 1-800-244-3301, is available as well, but during limited hours - between 4 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. The department would prefer to receive information through the web site.

€ As of Friday, nine Oregon residents contacted the U.S. Department of Energy to report gas prices. California residents have submitted the highest number of responses, with 273.

€ In February, U.S. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., requested the Federal Trade Commission re-examine recent oil industry mergers and investigate Shell Oil's plans to close its Bakersfield, Calif., refinery in October. The refinery produces 70,000 barrels a day.

Wyden has asked the FTC to determine "whether this refinery closure will cause further anti-competitive problems in West Coast gasoline markets and to take appropriate action to avoid any such problems."

€ The national per-gallon average for regular-grade gas was $1.717 as of March 1. California prices averaged $2.109 a gallon on March 1, after an 8-cent-a-gallon jump the previous week.

- Susan Chambers, staff writer