More Drops For SoCal Gas Prices

All Southern California gas price averages in major metropolitan areas are now below $3 a gallon, with further drops perhaps coming as gas stations switch to selling cheaper-to-produce winter blend after Halloween, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail state average is $2.863 a gallon for regular today, 3.8 cents less than last week.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.965 per gallon, which is 4.4 cents less than last week, 23 cents less than last month, and 53 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $2.913, which is 4.9 cents less than last week, 22 cents lower than last month, and 58 cents less than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.962, 2.7 cents less than last week, 21 cents lower than a month ago, and 58 cents less than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $2.895, 3.7 cents lower than last week, 21 cents less than last month, and 56 cents less than last year.

“Starting just about this time last year, Southern California gas price went from steady drops to double-digit weekly plunges as supply increased dramatically,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “However, because of the continued refinery outage in Torrance, dramatic price drops are unlikely in Southern California this fall unless demand or the price of oil drops significantly.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Oct. 22, averages are: 

Bakersfield                                          $2.884      -3.3 cents    $4.648 (10/9/12)