(LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2008) - A few local gas stations replaced their "3"s with "2"s on the front of their prices for the first time since February, as gas prices continued plummeting in Southern California and throughout the U.S., 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 $3.223 per gallon, which is 16.4 cents less than last week, 45 cents lower than last month, and nine cents above last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.186, which is 17.8 cents under last week's price, 49 cents below last month, and two cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.286, down 18.1 cents from last week, 48 cents below last month, and one penny more than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.211, which is 15 cents under last week, down 45 cents from last month, and eight cents higher than last year.
"We've never seen local gas prices come down this fast in such a short period," said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. "Gas stations in Buena Park, Chula Vista, Visalia and a few other local cities are the first to post sub-$3 gas prices, and we could see many more over the next week if this decline continues."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m. Oct. 24:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
$3.223 | - 16.4 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) | |
$3.204 | - 13.8 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) | |
$3.186 | - 17.8 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) | |
$3.286 | - 18.1 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) | |
$3.211 | - 15 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) | |
$3.206 | - 20.9 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) | |
$3.054 | - 19.2 cents | $4.279 (6/21/08) |