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Gas Prices Swing Back Up; Skyrocketing Ethanol a Factor

(LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12, 2010) —Local gas prices zoomed up over the past week and posted a net gain of about a dime compared to last month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California October average price for regular unleaded self-serve gasoline is $3.094, nine cents higher than the September average of $3.007. This month’s average price is seven cents higher than last year’s October price average of $3.025.

The statewide average price of $3.096 is seven cents higher than the September average of $3.023. Marysville in Northern California once again has the lowest average price in the state at $3.024, while South Lake Tahoe again has the highest gas price average at $3.243. The lowest priced Southern California city surveyed is Van Nuys at $3.032 while highest-priced Southern California gas is in Del Mar at $3.223 a gallon.
 
Nationally, the October average price of $2.811 is almost 10 cents higher than the September average of $2.717. Alaska continues to have the most expensive gas in the country with an average price of $3.484. South Carolina has the lowest state average price at $2.623.  

“The price of ethanol, which is a gasoline additive to reduce pollution, shot up in the last week and crude oil prices jumped over $80 a barrel, triggering the latest jump in gas prices,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Oil industry analysts say that while domestic demand remains sluggish, investors were boosting the prices of ethanol and crude in anticipation of increased international demand.”

In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
 
County/City
Unl
10/12
Unl
9/14
Pre
10/12
Pre
9/14
Imperial County 
 
 
 
 
El Centro
3.109
3.089
3.339
3.274
 
 
 
 
 
Inyo County 
 
 
 
 
Bishop
3.050
3.041
3.399
3.189
 
 
 
 
 
Kern County 
 
 
 
 
Bakersfield
3.131
3.079
3.288
3.216
Ridgecrest
3.136
3.187
3.324
3.379
 
 
 
 
 
Los Angeles County
 
 
 
 
Alhambra
3.065
2.967
3.259
3.191
Arcadia
3.088
3.015
3.272
3.203
Burbank
3.105
2.986
3.267
3.188
Culver City
3.100
2.999
3.287
3.178
Glendale
3.099
3.010
3.284
3.252
Glendora
3.033
3.013
3.248
3.152
Inglewood
3.047
2.935
3.303
3.151
Lancaster
3.084
2.975
3.273
3.117
Long Beach
3.053
2.941
3.255
3.142
Los Angeles
3.114
3.024
3.304
3.225
Manhattan Beach
3.136
3.039
3.312
3.203
Montebello
3.112
3.006
3.326
3.154
Santa Clarita
3.079
2.978
3.276
3.186
Santa Monica
3.129
3.034
3.327
3.237
Van Nuys
3.032
2.961
3.239
3.117
Whittier
3.073
2.948
3.270
3.088
Woodland Hills
3.114
3.010
3.294
3.186
 
 
 
 
 
Orange County
 
 
 
 
Anaheim
3.073
2.970
3.254
3.175
Fullerton
3.081
2.955
3.263
3.136
Huntington Beach
3.056
2.963
3.252
3.146
La Habra
3.073
2.924
3.229
3.096
Laguna Beach
3.188
3.118
3.399
3.354
Newport Beach
3.130
3.034
3.330
3.239
San Clemente
3.109
3.003
3.316
3.197
Tustin
3.093
3.009
3.269
3.182
 
 
 
 
 
Riverside County
 
 
 
 
Blythe
3.177
3.061
3.399
3.254
Hemet
3.051
2.968
3.239
3.152
Palm Springs
3.040
3.004
3.205
3.125
Riverside
3.064
2.964
3.234
3.159
 
 
 
 
 
San Bernardino County
 
 
 
 
Redlands
3.059
2.975
3.255
3.218
San Bernardino
3.035
2.961
3.236
3.120
Victorville
3.076
2.975
3.203
3.140
 
 
 
 
 
San Diego County
 
 
 
 
Chula Vista
3.091
2.978
3.275
3.129
Del Mar
3.223
3.119
3.454
3.306
Escondido
3.051
2.931
3.241
3.129
Oceanside
3.096
3.009
3.246
3.156
San Diego
3.079
2.991
3.262
3.171
 
 
 
 
 
San Luis Obispo County
 
 
 
 
San Luis Obispo
3.148
3.041
3.329
3.229
 
 
 
 
 
Santa Barbara County
 
 
 
 
Lompoc
3.064
2.967
3.459
3.177
Santa Barbara
3.156
3.052
3.327
3.339
Santa Maria
3.068
2.974
3.302
3.151
 
 
 
 
 
Tulare County
 
 
 
 
Porterville
3.137
3.057
3.298
3.359
Visalia
3.082
3.089
3.323
3.305
 
 
 
 
 
Ventura County
 
 
 
 
Ventura
3.123
3.025
3.293
3.224
 
Unl
10/12
Unl
9/14
Pre
10/12
Pre
9/14
Southern CA average
3.094
3.007
3.292
3.196
 
 

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.