Southland gas prices are moving closer to $3 a gallon on average as refineries reportedly face increased operational costs stemming from a local natural gas shortage, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail state average is $2.875 a gallon for regular today, 1.5 cents more than last Thursday.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.935 per gallon, which is 3.8 cents higher than last week, 10.5 cents higher than last month, and 67 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $2.901, which is three cents higher than last week, 10 cents higher than last month, and 66 cents less than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.949, 4.2 cents more than last week, 10 cents higher than a month ago, and 62 cents less than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $2.867, 2.6 cents more than last week, seven cents more than last month, and 67 cents less than last year.
“Los Angeles wholesale fuel prices jumped this week to their highest level since early January, when average pump prices reached as high as $3.07 a gallon,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “Refineries reportedly are experiencing higher energy costs because the closure of the Aliso Canyon natural gas facility due to a well rupture has created a regional shortage. The past week’s heat wave strained natural gas resources further.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on June 23, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
One-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$2.935 |
+3.8 cents |
$4.705 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$2.923 |
+5.6 cents |
$4.690 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
San Diego |
$2.901 |
+3.0 cents |
$4.725 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc |
$2.949 |
+4.2 cents |
$4.709 (6/21/08) |
|
|
|
|
Riverside – San Bernardino |
$2.867 |
+2.6 cents |
$4.688 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Ventura |
$2.902 |
+3.5 cents |
$4.689 (10/7/12) |
|
|
|
|
Bakersfield |
$2.847 |
-0.2 cent |
$4.648 (10/9/12) |