Riverside today became the first major metropolitan area in Southern California to reach a gas price average below $4 a gallon as prices continue dropping, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $4.05 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is four cents lower than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.05 per gallon, which is five cents lower than last week, two cents lower than last month, and 30 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.04, which is five cents below last Thursday, one cent below last month, and 31 cents higher than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.11, which is three cents less than last week, three cents higher than last month, and 35 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.99, which is six cents lower than last week, one cent lower than last month, and 32 cents higher than last year. In San Bernardino, the $4.01 average price is four cents lower than last week, the same as last month, and 32 cents higher than a year ago today.
“Local refineries have restarted production, reducing the need for expensive imports and pushing prices downward in time for an all-time record number of 3.35 million Southern Californians getting ready to travel over the Memorial Day holiday next weekend,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring.
The Auto Club urges drivers to shop around for the lowest gas prices by using the free AAA Mobile app, which displays the lowest nearby gas price on the home screen, and use other tools to save money on fill-ups such as the new Shell gas station discount for AAA members. Visit AAA.com/Shell for more details.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on May 16, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$4.05 |
-5 cents |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$4.02 |
-6 cents |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
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San Diego |
$4.04 |
-5 cents |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$4.11 |
-3 cents |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
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Riverside |
$3.99 |
-6 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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|
|
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San Bernardino |
$4.01 |
-4 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
|
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Ventura |
$4.06 |
-5 cents |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
|
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|
|
Bakersfield |
$4.10 |
-1 cent |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |