Near-record low inventories of California blend gasoline supply combined with a refinery fire have pushed up Southern California gas price averages by more than two cents a day over the past week in most areas, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.79, which is 27 cents higher than a week ago and 17 cents higher than a year ago today. The average national price is $3.16, which is three cents higher than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.75 per gallon, which is 16 cents more than last week and one cent less than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.76, which is 16 cents more than last week and one cent lower than this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.71, which is 15 cents higher than last week and one cent lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.62, which is 17 cents higher than last week and three cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.61 average price is f23 cents higher than last week and six cents higher than a year ago today.
“California refinery production of gasoline was already low when a major fire at the Martinez PBF refinery on Feb. 1 took it offline indefinitely, creating a surge in wholesale gasoline prices,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Although Southern California does not receive gasoline from the affected refinery, some supply from our area may be shifting to cover shortfalls in Northern California, which is experiencing even steeper pump price increases.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Feb. 13, averages are:
