For the first time since Labor Day weekend in 2015, Los Angeles drivers are paying over $3.50 a gallon on average to fill up as gas prices rose again this week, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.44 a gallon for regular unleaded, five cents higher than last Thursday.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.52 per gallon, which is six cents higher than last week, 10 cents higher than last month, and 49 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.47, which is five cents more than last Thursday, seven cents more than last month, and 45 cents higher than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.51, which is six cents higher than last week, 11 cents higher than last month, and 41 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.42, which is four cents more than last week, six cents higher than last month, and 44 cents more than at this time last year.
“Oil industry analysts point to Southern California gasoline inventories that are now slightly under their average levels of the past five years, likely due to planned maintenance at refineries in Carson and El Segundo that has reduced production,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “However, those refineries are expected to be up and running at full capacity soon, which should increase supply.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on March 22, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.52 |
+6 cents |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
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|
|
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Orange County |
$3.48 |
+6 cents |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
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San Diego |
$3.47 |
+5 cents |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
|
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|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$3.51 |
+6 cents |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
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Riverside |
$3.42 |
+4 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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San Bernardino |
$3.43 |
+4 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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Ventura |
$3.49 |
+6 cents |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
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Bakersfield |
$3.36 |
+3 cents |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |