Gas prices continued their seasonal march upward this week, although at a slower pace than in other years, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.56 a gallon for regular unleaded, three cents higher than last Thursday.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.61 per gallon, which is three cents more than last week, an increase of 11 cents from last month, and 56 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.58, which is two cents more than last Thursday, 14 cents more than last month, and 55 cents higher than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.62, which is three cents higher than last week, 13 cents higher than last month, and 49 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.54, which is three cents more than last week, 14 cents higher than last month, and 54 cents more than at this time last year.
“While local gas prices are definitely higher than in the last two years, the increase between the lowest and highest price points so far for the year is less than the typical price increase between Jan. 1 and mid-April of 70 cents or more,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “At this point in most areas, prices have moved up by about 55 cents.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on April 19, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.61 |
+3 cents |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
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Orange County |
$3.57 |
+2 cents |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
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San Diego |
$3.58 |
+2 cents |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
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Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$3.62 |
+3 cents |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
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Riverside |
$3.54 |
+3 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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San Bernardino |
$3.55 |
+3 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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Ventura |
$3.58 |
+3 cents |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
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Bakersfield |
$3.50 |
+4 cents |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |