As Holiday Travelers Prepare, Gas Prices Continue Dropping

For a fifth straight week, Southern California gas prices have dropped, just before an all-time record 8.2 million local residents get ready for year-end holiday trips, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.12 a gallon for regular unleaded, three cents lower than last Thursday.
 
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.14 per gallon, which is five cents less than last Thursday, 16 cents lower than last month, and 43 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.12, which is four cents lower than a week ago, 15 cents less than last month, and 41 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.18, which is three cents lower than last Thursday, eight cents lower than last month, and 43 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.09, which is four cents lower than last week, 12 cents less than last month, and 45 cents more than at this time last year.

“Holiday travelers and shoppers should continue to see gas prices dropping through the end of the year if current trends hold,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. ” Los Angeles wholesale prices have dropped to their lowest levels since June, and at that time retail prices were averaging $2.90 to $2.97. It’s unlikely we’ll see prices get that low, however, because of the 12-cent gas tax that was added Nov. 1.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Dec. 14, averages are: