Auto Club Weekend Gas Watch: Price Increases Slow As Averages Approach $3.50

Gas prices continued rising for the third straight week locally, but the increases have slowed down as average prices get nearer to $3.50 a gallon, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.36 a gallon for regular unleaded, six cents higher than last Thursday.
 
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.46 per gallon, which is three cents higher than last week, 22 cents higher than last month, and 55 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.43, which is four cents higher than a week ago, 24 cents more than last month, and 54 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.41, which is four cents higher than last Thursday, 19 cents higher than last month, and 48 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.39, which is three cents higher last week, 23 cents more than last month, and 54 cents more than at this time last year.

“Los Angeles wholesale and rack gasoline prices have backed down in the last week along with oil prices, indicating fewer investor worries about supply of both crude oil and fuel,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “However, with gas prices at high levels not seen since 2015, drivers can save some money by remembering good conservation habits like keeping tires properly inflated, and gently braking and accelerating to improve vehicle mileage.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Feb. 8, averages are: