A major refinery fire in Carson that began Tuesday night is contained, but so far gas prices have not been affected, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. Today’s retail statewide average is $3.48 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is a penny less than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.57 per gallon, which is unchanged from last week, three cents lower than a month ago, and 22 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.55, which is the same as last Thursday, three cents less than last month, and 24 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.57, which is one cent lower than last week, three cents lower than last month, and 24 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.48, which is one cent higher than last week, two cents lower than last month, and 21 cents higher than last year. In San Bernardino, the $3.51 average price is two cents less than last week, five cents lower than last month, and 21 cents higher than a year ago today.
“The Marathon Refinery fire certainly has the potential to create a major supply issue in Southern California depending on the extent of the damage and how long it takes to repair the affected units,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “However, oil prices are dropping dramatically this week in anticipation that gasoline demand will drop worldwide because of the Covid-19 coronavirus, and that trend may help to counteract upward pressure on prices from the fire.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Feb. 27, averages are:
