Auto Club Weekend Gas Watch: Prices Surge On Costs, Production Drops

Southern California gas prices surged again this week and are now at their highest levels since September 2015, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.30 a gallon for regular unleaded, eight cents higher than last Thursday.
 
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.43 per gallon, which is a dime higher than last week, 28 cents higher than last month, and 57 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.39, which is 11 cents higher than a week ago, 26 cents more than last month, and 54 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.37, which is nine cents higher than last Thursday, 24 cents higher than last month, and 48 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.36, which is 12 cents higher last week, 28 cents more than last month, and 57 cents more than at this time last year.

“Oil industry analysts reported this week that part of the price surge includes the higher costs of producing the summer blend of gasoline, even though that blend is not required for use in California gas pumps for two more months,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “The California Energy Commission also reports this week that the state’s gasoline production has dropped by about 12 percent in the last two weeks as refinery maintenance season begins. Along with higher oil costs, these factors are pushing up gas prices and prompting more investment in California gasoline futures, which further increases prices.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Feb. 1, averages are: