Southern California gas prices dropped by double digits in most areas over the past week, bringing many stations prices below $4 a gallon, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.183 per gallon, which is 10.2 cents less than last week, 5 cents lower than last month, and 18 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $4.158, 11.2 cents below last week, 6 cents above last month, and 19 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.254, down 7.8 cents from last week, three-tenths of one cent lower than a month ago, and 21 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $4.161, down 9.9 cents from last week, 4 cents lower than last month, and 20 cents more than last year.
“Drivers should absolutely be aggressively shopping around for the best gas prices close to their normal commutes right now, because even though all local average prices are well above $4 a gallon, almost every area in Southern California has gas stations with prices of $3.99 or less,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Oil industry analysts last week observed a substantial drop in Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices which are bringing the lowest prices in the state to Southern California gas stations. California prices are now below those in Oregon and Washington, which have had some continued refinery production issues.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 10 a.m. on June 7, averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $4.183 | -10.2 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $4.140 | -10.3 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $4.158 | -11.2 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $4.254 | -7.8 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $4.161 | -9.9 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $4.202 | -9.5 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $4.176 | -10.8 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |