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Auto Club: Gas Prices Zoom Up Over Memorial Day, But Increase May Be Temporary

Pump Jack by Bureau of Land ManagementPNG
Photo by US Bureau of Land Management https://www.flickr.com/photos/ mypubliclands/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/  

Gas prices climbed by about a penny a day in most Southern California areas over the past week as Memorial Day travelers filled up for their trips, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.88, which is seven cents higher than last week. The average national price is $3.57, which is the same as a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.95 per gallon, which is eight cents higher than last week, five cents higher than last month, and $1.25 lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.92, which is seven cents more than last week, three cents higher than last month, and $1.18 lower than last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.93, which is seven cents higher than last week, five cents higher than last month, and $1.18 lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.85, which is seven cents higher than last week, three cents higher than last month and $1.21 lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.86 average price is three cents higher than last week, three cents lower than last month, and $1.27 lower than a year ago today.

“The Auto Club projected that Memorial Day travel among Southern Californians would return to pre-pandemic levels,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices moved up sharply in May before the holiday, but have dropped back down in the past week, indicating that current supplies are meeting the demand and possibly signalling the end of pump price increases for now.”

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 June 1, averages are:

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Media Contacts

Marie Montgomery
(714) 420-0477 (cell)
Montgomery.Marie@aaa-calif.com
Anlleyn Venegas
Public Affairs Specialist. Spanish-Language Media Spokesperson , Auto Club Enterprises
(619) 565-4556
Venegas.Anlleyn@ace.aaa.com
Doug Shupe
LA-based media contact
(512) 659-1632
shupe.doug@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.