Gas Prices Reverse Course Over Holidays, Head Higher

Despite high gasoline inventories, local gas prices have increased in the last week at least partly on news of increased California refinery gasoline exports to Mexico, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.13 a gallon for regular unleaded, four cents higher than last Thursday.
 
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.13 per gallon, which is four cents more than last Thursday, 10 cents lower than last month, and 36 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.10, which is three cents higher than a week ago, 10 cents less than last month, and 32 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.15, which is two cents higher than last Thursday, nine cents lower than last month, and 35 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.06, which is two cents higher than last week, 10 cents less than last month, and 37 cents more than at this time last year.

“Almost half the country has seen gas price jumps in the last week, partly because the better economy is creating a new all-time record for holiday travel,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. ”Here in California, reportedly demand has increased for gasoline exports to Mexico, reversing a bit of the six-week decline in prices at the pump.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Dec. 28, averages are: