(LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2008) - Southern California gas prices ticked slightly upward last weekend but reversed course and posted a net decrease for the 13th straight week, 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 $3.744 per gallon, which is 3.9 cents less than last week, 28 cents lower than last month, and .84 above last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.744, which is 4.2 cents under last week's price, 23 cents below last month, and .80 higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.852, down 10.2 cents from last week, 29 cents below last month, and .78 more than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.721, which is 4.6 cents under last week, down 28 cents from last month, and .81 higher than last year.
"Hurricane Ike has wreaked havoc with gasoline supplies and prices in many other areas, pushing prices over $4 a gallon in nine Midwestern and Southern states," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "California is now in the rare position of having an average gas price that is less than the national average. Local prices have not risen because most of our gasoline is refined in this state. But if shortages continue to cause problems elsewhere, we could see California prices rise as supplies are diverted to other areas."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m. Sept. 19:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
$3.744 | - 3.9 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) | |
$3.716 | - 3.8 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) | |
$3.744 | - 4.2 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) | |
$3.852 | - 10.2 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) | |
$3.721 | - 4.6 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) | |
$3.887 | - 1.8 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) | |
$3.599 | - 4.7 cents | $4.279 (6/21/08) |