High crude oil prices appear to be the major factor behind the sharpest one-week increase in gas prices since June, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. Today’s retail statewide average is $3.32 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is five cents higher than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.31 per gallon, which is five cents higher than last week, 15 cents higher than last month, and 29 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is also $3.31, which is six cents higher than last week, 15 cents more than than last month, and 28 cents lower than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.29, which is three cents higher than last week, nine cents higher than last month, and 35 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.25, which is six cents higher than last week, 14 cents higher than last month, and 26 cents lower than last year. In Bakersfield, the $3.22 average price is five cents higher than last week, ten cents higher than last month, and 42 cents lower than a year ago today.
“Crude oil is at its highest price level in nearly a year, and that has pushed prices up despite continued low demand and stay-at-home orders in many parts of the state,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 14, averages are:
