Southern California gas prices have peaked and started dropping very slightly in recent days as fuel supply concerns caused by Hurricane Harvey have eased, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.15 a gallon for regular unleaded, a penny higher than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.19 per gallon, which is the same as last week, 19 cents above last month, and 40 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.15, which is also the same as last week, 17 cents more than last month, and 39 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.18, which is down one cent from last week, 16 cents higher than last month, and 39 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.13, which is two cents more than last week, 20 cents more than last month, and 41 cents more than at this time last year.
“Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices shot up by 34 cents from Aug. 24 to Aug. 31 due to Harvey-related supply concerns, but since then have dropped by 22 cents, leaving plenty of room for retail prices to start dropping more rapidly in coming days,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “The Auto Club urges drivers to shop around for the lowest gas prices by using the free AAA Mobile app, which displays the lowest gas price near you on the home screen.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Sept. 14, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.19 |
No change |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$3.17 |
+1 cent |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
San Diego |
$3.15 |
No change |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$3.18 |
-1 cent |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
|
|||
Riverside/San Bernardino |
$3.13 |
+2 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Ventura |
$3.15 |
+1 cent |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
|
|
|
|
Bakersfield |
$3.09 |
No change |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |