For the second straight week, Southern California gas prices have moved up sharply in many areas even as gas prices nationally have continued declining, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $5.44, which is 13 cents higher than last week. The average national price is $3.70, which is five cents lower than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.42 per gallon, which is eight cents higher than last week, three cents higher than last month, and $1.02 higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.38, which is eight cents higher than last week, three cents higher than last month, and $1.03 higher than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.45, which is four cents higher than last week, seven cents lower than last month and $1.09 higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $5.30, which is nine cents higher than last week, four cents higher than last month and 99 cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.38 average price is eight cents higher than last Thursday, 15 cents lower than last month and $1.03 higher than a year ago today.
“The US Energy Information Administration reported yesterday that gasoline inventories in Western states have declined for eight straight weeks and are now at the lowest level in a decade,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Because of this year’s exceptionally high prices due to the war in Ukraine and inflation, local refineries reportedly delayed maintenance and this week, six of them were undergoing planned or unplanned repairs.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Sept. 15, averages are: