Although gas prices are lower compared to this time last week in many local areas, they have begun rising in recent days in response to increased oil prices, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.65, which is a penny lower than a week ago and 17 cents lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $3.20, which is eight cents higher than a week ago and 24 cents lower than on this date last year.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.64 per gallon, which is one cent lower than last week and 15 cents less than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.67, which is one cent higher than last week and 15 cents lower than this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.59, which is the same as last week and 35 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.46, which is one cent less than last week and 25 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.58 average price is three cents lower than last week and 32 cents lower than a year ago today.
“Crude oil prices jumped from about $60 a barrel at the end of May to about $75 a barrel today in response to Middle East conflict, but so far the local pump price increases have been small,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Since oil costs represent about half the cost of producing gasoline, we could see further gas price increases if oil prices stay higher or increase further.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on June 19, averages are:
