Southern California gas prices are no longer plunging as quickly in the ninth straight week of declines, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $5.33, which is five cents lower than last week. The average national price is $3.93, which is six cents lower than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.35 per gallon, which is six cents lower than last week, 61 cents lower than last month, and 96 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.31, which is six cents lower than last week, 57 cents lower than last month, and 95 cents higher than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.49, which is eight cents lower than last week, 45 cents lower than last month and $1.15 higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $5.22, which is six cents lower than last week, 62 cents lower than last month and 90 cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.46 average price is nine cents lower than last Thursday, 62 cents lower than last month and $1.12 higher than a year ago today.
“Southern California gas prices are now at their lowest levels since March shortly after the Ukraine war began, and they are also less than a dollar higher than a year ago today in many areas, which has not happened since April 2021,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Despite average prices remaining well above $5 a gallon, most Southern California drivers should easily be able to find gas stations charging less than $5 near them by using a free tool such as the AAA Mobile app.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Aug. 18, averages are: