Despite Winter Blend Switch, SoCal Gas Prices Move Up

Even as Southern California gas stations switched to pumping the less expensive winter blend of gasoline this week, refinery problems drove prices up by about a penny a day in most local areas, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail state average is $2.80 a gallon for regular today, three cents more than last Thursday.
 
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.899 per gallon, which is 7.3 cents higher than last week, six cents higher than last month, and three cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $2.868, which is 6.2 cents higher than last week, six cents higher than last month, and one penny less than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.885, 4.3 cents more than last week, six cents higher than a month ago, and five cents less than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $2.819, 5.7 cents more than last week, six cents more than last month, and five cents less than last year.

“Some Southern California refineries were reportedly purchasing gasoline on the spot market late last week due to maintenance issues which prevented them from reaching production targets,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring.  “The winter grade of fuel, which is allowed to be sold in Southern California as of Nov. 1, is cheaper for the refineries to produce. However, refinery maintenance issues limit production and when refiners must purchase fuel elsewhere to make up the shortfall, gas prices increase.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov. 3, averages are: