Many Southern California areas posted slight gas price increases over the past week, reversing the trend that drivers saw for most of this summer, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.49, which is the same for two weeks in a row and 10 cents lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $3.13, which is three cents lower than a week ago and 26 cents lower than on this date last year.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.48 per gallon, which is two cents higher than last week and eight cents less than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.55, which is the same as last week and 11 cents lower than this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.43, which is one cent lower than last week and 24 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.32, which is one cent more than last week and 13 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.45 average price is one cent lower than last week and 16 cents lower than a year ago today.
“According to the Oil Price Information Service and California Energy Commission, gasoline inventories in the state rose over the past week, which should help to prevent large increases in pump prices,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Aug. 21, averages are:
