Motorists are finally seeing some relief heading into the height of summer vacation season as Southern California gas prices continue to drop from their highest levels of the year, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.69 a gallon for regular unleaded, three cents lower than last Thursday.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.70 per gallon, which is four cents less than week, five cents lower than last month, and 72 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.71, which is three cents less than last Thursday, three cents less than last month, and 76 cents higher than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.77, which is two cents lower than last week, one cent higher than last month, and 74 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.66, which is three cents lower than last week, two cents lower than last month, and 74 cents more than at this time last year.
“The lower prices will help the budgets of an all-time record number of 3.4 million Southern Californians traveling over the upcoming Independence Day holiday,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices are now at their lowest levels since March of this year, so we should see gas prices continue to drop as we head closer to the holiday.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on June 21, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.70 |
-4 cents |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$3.66 |
-4 cents |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
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|
|
|
San Diego |
$3.71 |
-3 cents |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$3.77 |
-2 cents |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
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Riverside |
$3.66 |
-3 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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|
|
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San Bernardino |
$3.67 |
-3 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
|
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|
Ventura |
$3.70 |
-3 cents |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
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|
|
|
Bakersfield |
$3.67 |
No change |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |