(LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2009) – The dreaded “3” in front of regular unleaded gas prices began appearing on a few more Southland gas pumps this week, as average prices moved closer to $3 a gallon, 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 $2.938 per gallon, which is 11.3 cents more than last week, 52 cents higher than last month, and $1.55 less than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.955, which is 11.6 cents more than last week’s price, 52 cents above last month, and $1.57 lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.98, up 10.3 cents from last week, 47 cents above last month, and $1.40 below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $2.929, which is 11.9 cents more than last week, 52 cents more than last month, and $1.55 less than last year.
“As prices have continued increasing for the sixth straight week, it’s interesting to note that all of the major metropolitan areas in Southern California have price averages within a nickel of each other, so consumers are paying almost the same price at the pump in Santa Barbara as in Los Angeles,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “This is a rare instance that is probably caused by retailers’ reluctance to raise prices over $3. This phenomenon also sometimes happens when prices are nearing a peak.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 11 a.m. on June 11, averages are:
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.938 per gallon, which is 11.3 cents more than last week, 52 cents higher than last month, and $1.55 less than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.955, which is 11.6 cents more than last week’s price, 52 cents above last month, and $1.57 lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.98, up 10.3 cents from last week, 47 cents above last month, and $1.40 below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $2.929, which is 11.9 cents more than last week, 52 cents more than last month, and $1.55 less than last year.
“As prices have continued increasing for the sixth straight week, it’s interesting to note that all of the major metropolitan areas in Southern California have price averages within a nickel of each other, so consumers are paying almost the same price at the pump in Santa Barbara as in Los Angeles,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “This is a rare instance that is probably caused by retailers’ reluctance to raise prices over $3. This phenomenon also sometimes happens when prices are nearing a peak.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 11 a.m. on June 11, averages are:
| Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $2.938 | +11.3 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
| Orange County | $2.933 | +11.1 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
| San Diego | $2.955 | +11.6 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $2.980 | +10.3 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $2.929 | +11.9 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
| Bakersfield | $2.965 | +12.7 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
| Ventura | $2.943 | +10.5 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |