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Auto Club: Gas Price Declines Slow Down as Thanksgiving Nears

October 2012 Brought Record Prices

The fall of local gas prices is slowing down after five straight weeks of them dropping to close to a dollar below their record levels, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $5.46, which is three cents lower than last week. The average national price is $3.80, which is two cents higher than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.53 per gallon, which is one cent lower than last week, 87 cents lower than last month, and 93 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.50, which is two cents lower than last week, 84 cents lower than last month, and 95 cents higher than last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.49, which is five cents lower than last week, 79 cents lower than last month, and 96 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $5.38, which is three cents lower than last week, 91 cents lower than last month, and 86 cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.68 average price is six cents lower than last Thursday, 66 cents lower than last month, and $1.11 higher than a year ago today.

“We are two weeks away from Thanksgiving, one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and also Southern California refineries are now emphasizing production of diesel over gasoline because of diesel shortages, so price declines may pause,,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Make sure to shop around virtually for the lowest prices using a tool such as the free AAA Mobile app to avoid overpaying for gas.”

The Auto Club reminds drivers of the following tips to save money on gas:

  • If you use premium unleaded fuel, make sure it is required for your vehicle, not just recommended. The Auto Club's Automotive Research Center found that vehicles with recommended premium fuel performed safely with regular unleaded gasoline.
  • Make sure your tires are properly maintained and inflated to the correct level.
  • Maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular service will ensure optimum fuel economy.
  • Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard accelerations. These actions greatly increase fuel consumption.
  • Slow down and drive the speed limit. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speed increases. Reducing freeway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
  • Use cruise control on the highway to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, never use cruise control on slippery roads because you could lose control of the vehicle.
  • Minimize your use of air conditioning.
  • Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine, even in colder temperatures. It’s unnecessary and wastes fuel.
  • Remove unnecessary and heavy items from your car.
  • Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use.
  • Download the AAA App to find the cheapest gas prices near you. 

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov. 10, averages are:

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Media Contacts

Anlleyn Venegas
Public Affairs Specialist. Spanish-Language Media Spokesperson , Auto Club Enterprises
(619) 565-4556
Venegas.Anlleyn@ace.aaa.com
Marie Montgomery
(714) 420-0477 (cell)
Montgomery.Marie@aaa-calif.com
CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.