Just when it appeared the local gas price spike was over and that prices were ready to head back down, they began skyrocketing again on Monday and, based on the current rate of increase, averages could top $4 a gallon in many areas tomorrow, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail state average is $3.798 a gallon for regular today, 9.1 cents more than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.997 per gallon, which is 17.2 cents more than last week, 86 cents more than last month, and 21 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.954, which is 18.2 cents more than last week, 84 cents higher than last month, and 23 cents lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.900, 13.7 cents more than last week, 76 cents higher than a month ago, and 33 cents less than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.909, up 15.2 cents from last week, 79 cents more than last month, and 27 cents less than last year.
“Reportedly there were production problems at an unidentified refinery over the weekend that pushed Los Angeles wholesale prices up nearly 30 cents over the weekend, causing the most recent spike,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “The state is awaiting supplies from Asian and Canadian refineries, which should arrive before the end of the month, but probably not before many gas stations post $4-plus prices.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on May 14, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
One-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.997 |
+17.2 cents |
$4.705 (10/9/12) |
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Orange County |
$3.981 |
+16.1 cents |
$4.690 (10/8/12) |
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San Diego |
$3.954 |
+18.2 cents |
$4.725 (10/8/12) |
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Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc |
$3.900 |
+13.7 cents |
$4.709 (6/21/08) |
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Riverside – San Bernardino |
$3.909 |
+15.2 cents |
$4.688 (10/8/12) |
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Ventura |
$3.975 |
+18.3 cents |
$4.689 (10/7/12) |
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Bakersfield |
$3.680 |
+7.6 cents |
$4.648 (10/9/12) |