(LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2006) — The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Southern California vaulted 51 cents from April to May, obliterating the prior record monthly average gasoline price set last fall, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.
The Southern California April average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $3.417, up from the April 11 average of $2.903. The prior record was set in September 2005 at $3.03.
“Gas prices have climbed $1.06 since December, due to a variety of oil and gas trader concerns about production in Nigeria, Iran and Venezuela as well as a scarcity of the additive, ethanol, in the southeast part of the nation,” said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. “However, federal reports have indicated that high gas prices have reduced demand in recent weeks, and reduced demand should moderate prices.”
Statewide, the average price for May is $3.378, up from is $2.860, in April. This eclipses the prior all-time record high of $3.054 that was set on Sept. 9, 2005. The lowest average price in the state is in San Rafael, where regular is selling for $3.223. Blythe reports the state’s highest average price at $3.608.
Nationally, the average price is $2.943, up from $2.686 in April. The state with the highest gas price average is Hawaii at $3.400. Oklahoma has the lowest average price of $2.712.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County/City | Regular, | Regular, | Premium, 5-16-06 | Premium, 4-11-06 |
Imperial County |
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El Centro | 3.555 | 3.003 | 3.739 | 3.167 |
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Inyo County |
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Bishop | 3.559 | 2.999 | 3.742 | 3.186 |
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Kern County |
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Bakersfield | 3.430 | 2.885 | 3.601 | 3.019 |
Ridgecrest | 3.451 | 2.894 | 3.399 | 2.844 |
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Los Angeles County |
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Alhambra | 3.279 | 2.902 | 3.512 | 3.099 |
Arcadia | 3.419 | 2.902 | 3.624 | 3.089 |
Burbank | 3.412 | 2.884 | 3.592 | 3.106 |
Culver City | 3.430 | 2.933 | 3.542 | 3.129 |
Glendale | 3.383 | 2.875 | 3.599 | 3.069 |
Glendora | 3.412 | 2.839 | 3.524 | 3.026 |
Inglewood | 3.386 | 2.854 | 3.599 | 3.059 |
Lancaster | 3.438 | 2.889 | 3.649 | 3.099 |
Long Beach | 3.373 | 2.865 | 3.579 | 2.981 |
Los Angeles | 3.421 | 2.915 | 3.596 | 3.079 |
Manhattan Beach | 3.415 | 2.944 | 3.559 | 3.159 |
Montebello | 3.368 | 2.859 | 3.326 | 2.883 |
Santa Clarita | 3.342 | 2.893 | 3.454 | 3.080 |
Santa Monica | 3.403 | 2.900 | 3.599 | 3.139 |
Van Nuys | 3.379 | 2.829 | 3.549 | 3.004 |
Whittier | 3.339 | 2.811 | 3.487 | 2.969 |
Woodland Hills | 3.402 | 2.897 | 3.619 | 3.099 |
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Orange County |
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Anaheim | 3.306 | 2.802 | 3.484 | 2.959 |
Fullerton | 3.327 | 2.796 | 3.484 | 2.989 |
Huntington Beach | 3.355 | 2.828 | 3.532 | 2.974 |
La Habra | 3.300 | 2.763 | 3.449 | 2.839 |
Laguna Beach | 3.425 | 2.989 | 3.537 | 3.176 |
Newport Beach | 3.420 | 2.937 | 3.652 | 3.172 |
San Clemente | 3.436 | 2.949 | 3.579 | 3.139 |
Tustin | 3.393 | 2.907 | 3.599 | 3.119 |
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Riverside County |
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Blythe | 3.608 | 3.115 | 3.809 | 3.149 |
Hemet | 3.403 | 2.882 | 3.419 | 2.899 |
Palm Springs | 3.481 | 2.971 | 3.699 | 3.192 |
Riverside | 3.417 | 2.875 | 3.589 | 3.052 |
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San Bernardino County |
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Redlands | 3.447 | 2.906 | 3.662 | 3.079 |
San Bernardino | 3.444 | 2.890 | 3.499 | 3.061 |
Victorville | 3.446 | 2.916 | 3.507 | 2.993 |
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San Diego County |
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Chula Vista | 3.420 | 2.894 | 3.649 | 3.092 |
Del Mar | 3.546 | 3.022 | 3.319 | 3.194 |
Escondido | 3.400 | 2.847 | 3.581 | 3.032 |
Oceanside | 3.453 | 2.883 | 3.649 | 3.069 |
San Diego | 3.437 | 2.894 | 3.630 | 3.075 |
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San Luis Obispo County |
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San Luis Obispo | 3.433 | 2.939 | 3.619 | 3.159 |
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Santa Barbara County |
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Lompoc | 3.466 | 2.937 | 3.659 | 3.124 |
Santa Barbara | 3.490 | 2.997 | 3.602 | 3.184 |
Santa Maria | 3.466 | 2.984 | 3.578 | 3.199 |
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Tulare County |
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Porterville | 3.411 | 2.907 | 3.619 | 3.094 |
Visalia | 3.363 | 2.902 | 3.462 | 3.039 |
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Ventura County |
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Ventura | 3.344 | 2.836 | 3.489 | 2.955 |
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So. Calif. Avg. | 3.417 | 2.903 | 3.568 | 3.069 |
The Auto Club’s Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service — the nation’s most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data. Editors, for regional average daily fuel prices nationwide, please go to www.fuelgaugereport.com.
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