Southern California gas prices dropped for the third week in a row, but not by as much as in the prior two weeks, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $5.69, which is three cents lower than last week. The average national price is $4.12, which is five cents higher than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.79 per gallon, which is three cents lower than last week, 20 cents lower than last month, and $1.77 higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.75, which is three cents lower than last week, 17 cents lower than last month, and $1.73 higher than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.80, which is three cents lower than last week, eight cents lower than last month and $1.81 higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $5.72, which is three cents lower than last week, 15 cents lower than last month and $1.77 higher than last year. In Bakersfield, the $5.78 average price is two cents less than last Thursday, one cent lower than last month and $1.90 higher than a year ago today.
“The Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday that West Coast gasoline stockpiles shrank over the previous week, as some imports that were expected for California are reportedly being redirected to East Coast cities that are having supply issues,” said Auto Club spokesman Doug Shupe. “Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices rose yesterday after that news, but they are still about 75 cents lower than the record high level reached on March 23, so there should still be plenty of room for prices to drop further.”
The Auto Club reminds drivers of the following tips to save money on gas:
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.
- Make sure your tires are properly maintained and inflated to the correct level.
- 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 April 21, averages are: