Average Southern California gas prices moved back over $3 a gallon in all major metropolitan areas this week as Memorial Day weekend travelers prepare to hit the road, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.09 a gallon for regular unleaded, eight cents higher than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.07 per gallon, which is four cents higher than last week, three cents higher than last month, and 24 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.03, which is four cents higher than last week, one cent higher than last month, and 22 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.08, three cents higher than last week, one cent lower than a month ago, and 23 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.02, four cents more than last week, two cents more than this time last month, and 23 cents more than last year.
“Gas prices are rising steadily in Southern California by about three to four cents since last Thursday, but have spiked by at least 10 cents over the last week in Northern California due to a refinery issue,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “Memorial Day weekend travelers will be paying $3.29 on average if they visit San Francisco – the highest price in a major U.S. city. But if they visit the No.1 destination for Southern California travelers, Las Vegas, the average price is now just $2.66 a gallon. Overall, holiday travelers will be paying the second-lowest prices for gas since 2009 in most areas.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on May 25, averages are:
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Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
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Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.07 |
+4 cents |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
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Orange County |
$3.05 |
+3 cents |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
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San Diego |
$3.03 |
+4 cents |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
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Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$3.08 |
+3 cents |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
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Riverside/San Bernardino |
$3.02 |
+4 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
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Ventura |
$3.03 |
+3 cents |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
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Bakersfield |
$3.01 |
+4 cents |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |