Menu More MORE
AAA
Roadside... Roadside Assistance

Monthly Jump Lifts Southern California Gas Prices Above $3 Per Gallon

(LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2010) —The new year is getting off to an expensive start for drivers, with gas prices rising by nearly half a cent per day in the past month, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California January average price for regular self-serve gasoline is $3.077, 13 cents higher than the December average of $2.946. This month’s average price is $1.09 higher than last year’s January price average of $1.991.

The statewide average price of $3.06 is 15 cents higher than the December average of $2.909. Both the lowest and highest state average prices are in Northern California: Modesto has the lowest average price at $2.989, while Tahoe City has the highest gas price average at $3.299. In central and Southern California, the cheapest gas is in Porterville, with an average price of $2.99, and Manhattan Beach has the most expensive gas at an average price of $3.216.
 
Nationally, the January average price of $2.751 is 12 cents higher than the December average of $2.634. Alaska continues to have the most expensive gas with an average price of $3.376 statewide with Hawaii just a hair behind at $3.373. Alaska, Hawaii and California are the only three U.S. states with price averages above $3. Wyoming has the lowest state average price at $2.505.

“Oil industry analysts tell us that investor money began flooding into crude oil and gasoline futures markets last month, driven by the continued weakness of the dollar,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “This has created an early jump for gasoline prices that unfortunately has little to do with actual demand, which remains at low levels in California and around the country.”  

In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
 
County/City
Unl 1/12
Unl 12/8
Pre 1/12
Pre 12/8
Imperial County 
 
 
 
 
El Centro
3.015
2.976
3.219
3.399
 
 
 
 
 
Inyo County 
 
 
 
 
Bishop
3.067
3.009
3.292
3.319
 
 
 
 
 
Kern County 
 
 
 
 
Bakersfield
3.113
2.948
3.275
3.076
Ridgecrest
3.078
3.150
3.299
3.346
 
 
 
 
 
Los Angeles County 
 
 
 
 
Alhambra
3.062
2.952
3.244
3.139
Arcadia
3.059
2.922
3.302
3.102
Burbank
3.067
2.934
3.261
3.162
Culver City
3.133
2.995
3.319
3.231
Glendale
3.095
2.965
3.295
3.200
Glendora
3.026
2.933
3.211
3.039
Inglewood
3.075
2.918
3.277
3.116
Lancaster
3.047
2.952
3.211
3.139
Long Beach
3.050
2.907
3.233
3.093
Los Angeles
3.094
2.957
3.265
3.151
Manhattan Beach
3.216
3.074
3.339
3.199
Montebello
3.068
2.934
3.312
3.106
Santa Clarita
3.068
2.943
3.272
3.135
Santa Monica
3.118
2.953
3.271
3.149
Van Nuys
3.032
2.899
3.230
3.063
Whittier
3.047
2.891
3.223
3.066
Woodland Hills
3.078
2.950
3.269
3.148
 
 
 
 
 
Orange County 
 
 
 
 
Anaheim
3.071
2.913
3.224
3.104
Fullerton
3.025
2.879
3.192
3.073
Huntington Beach
3.070
2.896
3.243
3.081
La Habra
3.053
2.853
3.179
3.036
Laguna Beach
3.169
3.055
3.412
3.280
Newport Beach
3.100
2.971
3.307
3.171
San Clemente
3.082
2.985
3.304
3.170
Tustin
3.106
2.966
3.280
3.148
 
 
 
 
 
Riverside County 
 
 
 
 
Blythe
3.198
3.121
3.441
3.264
Hemet
3.055
2.913
3.256
3.086
Palm Springs
3.021
2.957
3.279
3.159
Riverside
3.049
2.912
3.227
3.095
 
 
 
 
 
San Bernardino County 
 
 
 
 
Redlands
3.037
2.902
3.237
3.042
San Bernardino
3.059
2.908
3.228
3.108
Victorville
3.085
2.930
3.319
3.042
 
 
 
 
 
San Diego County 
 
 
 
 
Chula Vista
3.054
2.884
3.169
3.059
Del Mar
3.201
3.094
3.339
3.319
Escondido
3.017
2.878
3.221
3.089
Oceanside
3.062
2.920
3.228
3.107
San Diego
3.058
2.914
3.235
3.119
 
 
 
 
 
San Luis Obispo County 
 
 
 
 
San Luis Obispo
3.136
2.946
3.306
3.172
 
 
 
 
 
Santa Barbara County 
 
 
 
 
Lompoc
3.063
2.834
3.306
3.059
Santa Barbara
3.102
2.988
3.379
3.213
Santa Maria
3.082
2.933
3.309
3.157
 
 
 
 
 
Tulare County 
 
 
 
 
Porterville
2.990
2.838
2.999
2.919
Visalia
3.040
2.883
3.262
3.079
 
 
 
 
 
Ventura County 
 
 
 
 
Ventura
3.095
2.958
3.278
3.127
 
 
 
 
 
Southern CA average
3.077
2.946
3.266
3.139

Media Contacts

Marie Montgomery
(714) 885-2320
Montgomery.Marie@aaa-calif.com

CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.