Gas prices continued their Southern California pause in most areas over the last week as oil prices dropped on news of increased domestic supplies, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average slightly backed off the $3 a gallon average reached last week to $2.999, a drop of one-tenth of one cent.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.058 per gallon, which is seven-tenths of a cent cents lower than last week, eight cents higher than last month, and 31 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.039, which is half a cent lower than last week, nine cents higher than last month, and 32 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.115, 2.1 cents more than last week, 13 cents higher than a month ago, and 40 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.00, two-tenths of one cent less than last week, nine cents more than this time last month, and 32 cents more than last year.
“Los Angeles wholesale and rack prices have both dropped by 20 to 25 cents in the last three weeks from their record high points for the year, so there may now be some downward pressure for prices at the pump,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “We’ve seen oil prices drop dramatically as domestic production has increased, although prices have rebounded a bit in recent days.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on March 16, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.058 |
-0.7 cent |
$4.705 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$3.038 |
-2.1 cents |
$4.690 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
San Diego |
$3.039 |
-0.5 cent |
$4.725 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc |
$3.115 |
+2.1 cents |
$4.709 (6/21/08) |
|
|
|
|
Riverside – San Bernardino |
$3.000 |
-0.2 cent |
$4.688 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Ventura |
$3.041 |
-0.5 cent |
$4.689 (10/7/12) |
|
|
|
|
Bakersfield |
$2.936 |
+1.8 cents |
$4.648 (10/9/12) |