(LOS ANGELES – Feb. 2, 2012) –Gas prices continued moving upward in the last week in Southern California even as the price of crude oil dropped nationally and worldwide, 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 $3.794 per gallon, which 4.5 cents more than last week, 13 cents higher than last month, and 43 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.783, an increase of 4.1 cents from last week, 13 cents above last month, and 43 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.84, up 5.4 cents from last week, 17 cents higher than a month ago, and 43 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.766, up 3.6 cents from last week, 14 cents higher than last month, and 42 cents more than last year.
“Crude oil prices are dropping now, but gas prices may take awhile to reflect those drops,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “However, oil industry analysts tell us that refineries are scaling back production in the face of reduced domestic demand. They are seeing a year-over-year drop in gasoline demand despite some signs of an improving economy, probably in response to these record winter prices.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of noon on Feb. 2, averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $3.794 | +4.5 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $3.789 | +4.3 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $3.783 | +4.1 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $3.840 | +5.4 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $3.766 | +3.6 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $3.734 | +2.1 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $3.787 | +4.6 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |