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Auto Club: Gas Prices Top $5 In Some Areas For First Time This Year

Oil barrels by Ian Burt
Photo by Ian Burt  https://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsock/ creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Average gas prices in Los Angeles, San Diego and Ventura rose to $5 or higher for the first time in 2023 this week, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.94, which is five cents higher than a week ago. The average national price is $3.71, which is 13 cents higher than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.03 per gallon, which is five cents higher than last week, 13 cents higher than last month, and 70 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $5.00, which is five cents higher than last week, 12 cents higher than last month, and 65 cents lower than last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.97, which is three cents higher than last week, seven cents higher than last month, and 79 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.89, which is five cents higher than last week, 12 cents higher than last month and 73 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.89 average price is two cents higher than last week, three cents higher than last month, and $1.02 lower than a year ago today.

“Gas prices are up around the country as oil prices have risen to their highest levels since April,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “It’s important to keep in mind that drivers can usually find prices that are much lower than $5 a gallon by shopping around using a free tool such as the AAA Mobile app.”

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 July 27, averages are:

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Media Contacts

Marie Montgomery
(714) 885-2320
Montgomery.Marie@aaa-calif.com

Anlleyn Venegas
Public Affairs Specialist. English/Spanish Language Media Spokesperson
(619) 565-4556
Venegas.Anlleyn@ace.aaa.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.