Southern California gas prices have dropped for three straight weeks despite a tax increase on July 1 and a state policy change that is expected to increase gas production costs, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.53, which is three cents lower than a week ago and 25 cents lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $3.17, which is one cent higher than a week ago and 36 cents lower than on this date last year.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.53 per gallon, which is three cents lower than last week and 24 cents less than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.61, which is one cent lower than last week and 21 cents lower than this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.51, which is one cent less than last week and 40 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.38, which is two cents less than last week and 32 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.49 average price is three cents lower than last week and 35 cents lower than a year ago today.
“According to Oil Price Information Service, the US Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that West Coast gasoline inventories are at their highest level since January and refinery utilization rates remain near 90 percent,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “So far, those factors have offset the 1.6 cent-per-gallon tax increase on gasoline July 1 and a policy change on Low Carbon Fuel Standards that is expected to increase gasoline costs.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on July 10, averages are:
