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Auto Club: March Roars in Like a Lion with Hefty Gas Price Increases

(LOS ANGELES, March 4, 2010) –Southern California gas price averages leaped back over $3 a gallon in the last week with penny-a-day increases in most areas, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.027 per gallon, which is 7.4 cents more than last week, three cents more than last month, and 81 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.029, which is 7.8 cents more than last week’s price, 2.5 cents above last month, and 79 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.072, up 6.1 cent from last week, three cents higher than a month ago, and 76 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.016, which is 6.5 cents more than last week, three cents more than last month, and 80 cents more than last year.

“California gas prices are sharply increasing about a week after the rest of the country experienced a spike,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Oil industry analysts are pointing to the fact that spring typically brings an increase in gas prices due to production of the ‘summer blend’ of fuel that is required to be sold in all California gas stations beginning each April. Also, crude oil is now trading consistently at more than $80 a barrel, an indication that gasoline demand could strengthen this year.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 1 p.m. on March 4, averages are:
 
Area                   
 Regular
One-week
change
 
Record Price
 
Los Angeles – Long Beach
$3.027
    +7.4 cents
 $4.626 (6/21/08)
 
 
 
 
Orange County
$3.023
     +7.6 cents
 $4.598 (6/19/08)
 
 
 
 
San Diego
$3.029
     +7.8 cents
 $4.630 (6/19/08)
 
 
 
 
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc
$3.072
     +6.1 cents
 $4.709 (6/21/08)
 
 
 
 
Riverside – San  Bernardino
$3.016
     +6.5 cents
 $4.614 (6/22/08)
 
 
 
 
Bakersfield
$3.069
      +5.1 cents
 $4.591 (6/24/08)
 
 
 
 
Ventura
$3.017
      +7.2 cents
 $4.625 (6/18/08)

Media Contacts

Marie Montgomery
(714) 420-0477 (cell)
Montgomery.Marie@aaa-calif.com
CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.