Problems at an El Segundo refinery helped spur Southern California gas prices to jump higher this week, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.68 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is four cents higher than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.74 per gallon, which is up seven cents from last week, 11 cents higher than last month, and 60 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.70, which is six cents higher than last Thursday, 10 cents higher than last month, and 60 cents higher than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.73, which is three cents higher than week, four cents higher than last month, and 59 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.61, which is six cents higher than last week, 10 cents higher than last month, and 54 cents more than at this time last year.
“Los Angeles wholesale and rack fuel prices are near their highest levels of the year as investors worried about sufficient summer-blend supplies after an unexpected breakdown at the Chevron El Segundo refinery,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “However, the California Energy Commission reported on Wednesday that the state’s gasoline inventories have actually posted an increase, so that information may prevent prices from rising further.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Sept. 27, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.74 |
+7 cents |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$3.69 |
+7 cents |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
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San Diego |
$3.70 |
+6 cents |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$3.73 |
+3 cents |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
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Riverside |
$3.61 |
+6 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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San Bernardino |
$3.65 |
+5 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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Ventura |
$3.70 |
+5 cents |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
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Bakersfield |
$3.67 |
+3 cents |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |