Auto Club Weekend Gas Watch: Prices Jump After Brief Pause

Southern California gas prices jumped by about a penny a day in most areas over the past week, apparently spurred by demand increases and higher oil prices, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.22 a gallon for regular unleaded, four cent higher than last Thursday.
 
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.33 per gallon, which is eight cents higher than last Thursday, 21 cents higher than last month, and 49 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.28, which is six cents higher than a week ago, 19 cents more than last month, and 44 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.28, which is five cents higher than last Thursday, 15 cents higher than last month, and 39 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.24, which is six cents more than last week, 19 cents more than last month, and 47 cents more than at this time last year.

“The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Wednesday that gasoline demand in early January was nearly four percent higher than at this time last year, and oil prices surged to a three-year high point early today,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “The EIA also predicted that 2018 gasoline consumption could hit a new record for the U.S.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 25, averages are: