Southern California gas prices are now down by 70 to 75 cents from a month ago in many areas, which is the biggest one-month drop since 2012, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $5.54, which is 12 cents lower than last week. The average national price is $4.14, which is 13 cents lower than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.58 per gallon, which is 12 cents lower than last week, 71 cents lower than last month, and $1.20 higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.51, which is 11 cents lower than last week, 70 cents lower than last month, and $1.16 higher than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.67, which is eight cents lower than last week, 55 cents lower than last month and $1.34 higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $5.45, which is 15 cents lower than last week, 75 cents lower than last month and $1.15 higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.75 average price is 13 cents lower than last Thursday, 57 cents lower than last month and $1.43 higher than a year ago today.
“The last time gas prices dropped so steeply in a one-month period was from October to November 2012 after the state resolved a summer-blend gasoline supply crisis by allowing stations to begin selling winter blend a few weeks early,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Even though average gas prices are now well above $5 a gallon in Southern California, most metro areas now have several stations priced under $5 a gallon and we encourage consumers to seek those out using a tool like the free AAA Mobile app.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Aug. 4, averages are: