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Auto Club: More Drops For Gas Prices As Oil Prices Stay Low, Refineries Increase Production

Picturesque gas station by Wonderlane
Photo by Wonderlane https://www.flickr.com/photos/ wonderlane/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/
Southern California gas prices continued dropping for a second week as oil prices stayed low and more local refinery production rates improved, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.83, which is six cents lower than last week. The average national price is $3.44, 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 $4.85 per gallon, which is six cents lower than last week, two cents higher than last month, and $1.17 lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.87, which is six cents lower than last week, four cents higher than last month, and $1.10 lower than last year.
 
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.85, which is four cents lower than last week, nine cents higher than last month, and $1.08 lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.79, which is five cents lower than last week, six cents higher than last month and $1.11 lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.88 average price is two cents lower than last week, 14 cents higher than last month, and 94 cents lower than a year ago today.
 
“According to Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), the U.S. Energy Information’s Wednesday report revealed that West Coast refineries are now at their highest utilization rate in three months,” said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. “Oil prices are at their lowest level since December 2021, so that has also helped to drive down gas prices locally. However, a supply issue with Arizona gasoline could end up affecting Southern California prices, since local refineries produce some Arizona gasoline and some of their production could be diverted to alleviate that supply issue.” 
 
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 23, averages are:
 
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Media Contacts

Doug Shupe
(512) 659-1632
shupe.doug@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.