A brief upward surge last week in Southern California gas prices was quickly reversed when refiners were able to obtain adequate supplies to produce enough local gasoline and oil prices continued to drop, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail state average is $3.554 a gallon for regular today, 3 cents less than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.783 per gallon, which is 7.5 cents less than last week, 48 cents less than last month, and 9 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.723, which is 5.4 cents less than last week, 48 cents lower than last month, and 12 cents less than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.709, 6.1 cents less than last week, 46 cents lower than a month ago, and 14 cents less than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.702, 5.9 cents lower than last week, 48 cents less than last month, and 13 cents less than last year.
“It’s been a wild ride for gas prices this summer due to supply uncertainty,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “There may be more stability in the fall if the Exxon Mobil refinery is approved to begin gasoline production again with a temporary fix. But in the meantime, the volatility makes it more important than ever for consumers to be aware of the lowest-priced stations near them, or to shop around before filling up by using gas price apps such as the AAA Mobile app.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Aug.20, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
One-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.783 |
-7.5 cents |
$4.705 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$3.738 |
-8.5 cents |
$4.690 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
San Diego |
$3.723 |
-5.4 cents |
$4.725 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc |
$3.709 |
-6.1 cents |
$4.709 (6/21/08) |
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|
|
|
Riverside – San Bernardino |
$3.702 |
-5.9 cents |
$4.688 (10/8/12) |
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|
Ventura |
$3.751 |
-5.8 cents |
$4.689 (10/7/12) |