(LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16, 2009) - Many Southern California areas broke through $2 gas price averages this week as price increases grew from about a penny a day to about 1.5 cents daily, 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 $1.989 per gallon, which is 10.9 cents more than last week, 26 cents higher than last month, and $1.29 under last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.037, which is 11 cents more than last week's price, 33 cents above last month, and $1.25 lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.076, up 8.2 cents from last week, 28 cents up from last month, and $1.31 below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $1.989, which is 10.8 cents over last week, 29 cents more than last month, and $1.28 less than last year.
"Even with crude oil trading at very low prices, California gas prices continue to rise," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "Oil industry analysts say that is because California refineries have sharply cut production of the state's blend of unleaded gasoline in favor of fuel blends with higher profit margins."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 2:57 a.m. on Jan. 16.
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
$1.989 | + 10.9 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) | |
$1.981 | + 10.8 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) | |
$2.037 | + 11.0 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) | |
$2.076 | + 8.2 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) | |
$1.989 | + 10.8 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) | |
$2.090 | + 7.5 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) | |
$1.934 | + 9.5 cents | $4.279 (6/21/08) |