(LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23, 2010) – Local gas prices continued rising over the past week to their highest pre-Christmas levels in history, surpassing the previous Christmas price records of 2007, 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 $3.269 per gallon, which is nine-tenths of a cent more than last week, 12 cents higher than last month, and 34 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.289, 1.8 cents more than last week, 13 cents above last month, and 38 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.325, up 1.4 cents from last week, 13 cents higher than a month ago, and 33 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.264, which is 2.6 cents higher than last week, 13 cents higher than last month, and 36 cents more than last year.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.269 per gallon, which is nine-tenths of a cent more than last week, 12 cents higher than last month, and 34 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.289, 1.8 cents more than last week, 13 cents above last month, and 38 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.325, up 1.4 cents from last week, 13 cents higher than a month ago, and 33 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.264, which is 2.6 cents higher than last week, 13 cents higher than last month, and 36 cents more than last year.
“Local prices are now a few cents higher than they were at this time in 2007, and holiday drivers won’t get much relief by traveling to other states, since half of them now have averages above $3 a gallon,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “For the 6.6 million Southern Californians expected to drive to their holiday destinations, the Auto Club recommends using AAA.com/TripTik or the free AAA TripTik mobile app to view the cheapest places to stop for gas along their route.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 12 p.m. on Dec. 23 averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $3.269 | +0.9 cent | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $3.272 | +1.4 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $3.289 | +1.8 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $3.325 | +1.4 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $3.264 | +2.6 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $3.310 | +1.3 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $3.286 | +2.2 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |