Small Rise for Gas Prices; San Diego County Has Lowest and Highest Southland Averages

(LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2010) —Local gas prices continued their slow but steady rise in the last month, bringing price averages of $3.10 and above to every major Southern California area, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report.

The Southern California August average price for regular unleaded self-serve gasoline is $3.164, four cents higher than the July average of $3.123. This month’s average price is just 10 cents higher than last year’s August price average of $3.061.

The statewide average price of $3.179 is four cents higher than the July average of $3.136. Santa Clarita and Escondido both have the lowest average price in the state at $3.100, while South Lake Tahoe has the highest gas price average at $3.405. The highest-priced Southern California gas is in Del Mar, which has an average price of $3.329 a gallon.

 

Nationally, the August average price of $2.781 is almost seven cents higher than the July average of $2.713. Alaska continues to have the most expensive gas in the country with an average price of $3.542, which is four cents higher than last month. South Carolina again has the lowest state average price at $2.566 – ten cents lower than that’s state average last month.  

“Rising crude oil prices in the last couple of weeks have pushed up pump prices,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Also, oil industry analysts say investors may be keeping oil and gas prices relatively high because of predictions that this year’s hurricane season will be worse than normal.”

In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below: