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Auto Club: Gas Prices Still Climbing Toward $5 A Gallon

Fuel Gauge by Paul Schadler
Photo by Paul Schadler https://www.flickr.com/photos/pschadler/ creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Southern California gas prices continued their traditional increase during this time of year for the sixth week in a row, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.83, which is eight cents higher than last week. The average national price is $3.37, which is two cents lower than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.89 per gallon, which is six cents higher than last week, 32 cents higher than last month, and four cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.89, which is six cents higher than last week, 30 cents higher than last month, and one cent lower than last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.83, which is seven cents higher than last week, 32 cents higher than last month, and one cent lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.78, which is five cents higher than last week, 34 cents higher than last month and six cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.78 average price is four cents higher than last week, 22 cents higher than last month, and one cent higher than a year ago today.

“Oil Price Information Service and the Energy Information Administration report that West Coast refinery utilization rates are down to 77.8 percent due to maintenance and breakdowns,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "This is having a significant impact on California supply while most of the rest of the country is experiencing gas price stability or declines." 

The Auto Club reminds drivers of the following tips to save money on gas:

  • If you use premium unleaded fuel, make sure it is required for your vehicle, not just recommended. The Auto Club's Automotive Research Center found that vehicles with recommended premium fuel performed safely with regular unleaded gasoline.
  • Make sure your tires are properly maintained and inflated to the correct level.
  • Maintain your car according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Regular service will ensure optimum fuel economy.
  • Avoid “jackrabbit” starts and hard accelerations. These actions greatly increase fuel consumption.
  • Slow down and drive the speed limit. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speed increases. Reducing freeway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
  • Use cruise control on the highway to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel. However, never use cruise control on slippery roads because you could lose control of the vehicle.
  • Minimize your use of air conditioning.
  • Avoid extended idling to warm up the engine, even in colder temperatures. It’s unnecessary and wastes fuel.
  • Remove unnecessary and heavy items from your car.
  • Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use.
  • Download the AAA App to find the cheapest gas prices near you. 

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on March 2, averages are:

030223 chart

 

Media Contacts

Doug Shupe
LA-based media contact
(512) 659-1632
shupe.doug@aaa-calif.com
Anlleyn Venegas
Public Affairs Specialist. Spanish-Language Media Spokesperson , Auto Club Enterprises
(619) 565-4556
Venegas.Anlleyn@ace.aaa.com
Marie Montgomery
(714) 420-0477 (cell)
Montgomery.Marie@aaa-calif.com
CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.