Southern California gas prices continued climbing for a fifth straight week, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.65, which is two cents higher than last week and 12 cents lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $3.20, which is one cent higher than a week ago and one cent lower than on this date last year.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.73 per gallon, which is four cents higher than last week and 13 cents more than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.737 which is four cents higher than last week and eight cents higher than the price this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.66, which is three cents higher than last week and three cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.60, which is six cents more than last week and 11 cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.58 average price is three cents higher than last week and five cents lower than a year ago today.
“According to Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), the Phillips 66 refineriy in Wilmington and Carson has begun permanently winding down operations there after announcing it would shut down by the end of this year,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “OPIS also reports that yesterday’s Energy Information Administration data shows West Coast refinery utilization rates are at a four-month low point. This lower level of activity is common at this time of year as demand drops and refineries begin the process of switching to produce winter blend gasoline that can be sold in pumps starting Nov. 1.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Sept. 18, averages are:
