After declining for a few weeks, Southern California gas prices headed upward rapidly in the last several days as the region begins the process of switching to the more expensive ‘summer blend’ gasoline, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.56, which is seven cents higher than a week ago. The average national price is $3.15, which is five cents higher than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.66 per gallon, which is 12 cents higher than last week, 10 cents lower than last month, and 10 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.67, which is 11 cents more than last week, 11 cents lower than last month, and eight cents more than this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.65, which is 11 cents higher than last week, nine cents lower than last month, and 14 cents more than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.49, which is 13 cents higher than last week, 11 cents lower than last month and six cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.58 average price is one cent higher than last week, 22 cents lower than last month, and three cents higher than a year ago today.
“The Kinder Morgan gasoline pipeline servicing Southern California on Wednesday began shipping the more expensive ‘summer blend’ of gasoline, which is required to be sold in most local areas as of April 1,” said Auto Club Spokesperson Doug Shupe. “The switch generally increases costs at the pump, and additional increases typically occur in February through May if there are supply shortages caused by planned or unplanned local refinery outages as they undergo annual maintenance.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Feb. 1, averages are:
