Drivers Give Thanks As Average Prices Race Toward $3

As millions prepare for their Thanksgiving getaways, local consumers have more cash to spend on travel as California average gas prices continue to race toward $3 a gallon, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail state average is $3.122 a gallon for regular today, 7.4 cents less than last week.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.155 per gallon, which is 7 cents less than last week, 35 cents less than last month, and 43 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.125, which is 8 cents less than last week, 40 cents lower than last month, and 48 cents lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.175, 7.8 cents less than last week, 39 cents lower than a month ago, and 45 cents less than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.111, down 6.4 cents from last week, 38 cents less than last month, and 45 cents less than last year.

”It’s been nearly four years since Southern California average gas prices in most regions were below $3 a gallon, but it’s now fairly easy in most major Southland cities to find individual stations with prices of $2.99 or less,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “Thirty-eight states today have gas price averages below $3. Right now, gas price drops in California and most of the U.S. aren’t showing signs of slowing down.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov 20, averages are: