Continued lower oil prices and adequate local supplies are pushing prices down at most Southern California gas stations, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average dropped by 1.4 cents over the last week to $2.985 a gallon today.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.027 per gallon, which is 3.1 cents lower than last week, four cents higher than last month, and 22 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.025, which is 1.4 cents lower than last week, seven cents higher than last month, and 28 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.095, two cents less than last week, 11 cents higher than a month ago, and 32 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $2.983, 1.7 cents less than last week, five cents more than this time last month, and 24 cents more than last year.
“Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices are staying well below their high levels of late February and early March, and if that continues, we can expect to see additional price drops at the pump,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “All Southern California gas stations are now selling the more expensive summer blend of gasoline required by air quality regulations, but lower oil prices and adequate supplies appear to be counteracting those higher production costs.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on March 23, averages are:
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.027 |
-3.1 cents |
$4.705 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$3.010 |
-2.8 cents |
$4.690 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
San Diego |
$3.025 |
-1.4 cents |
$4.725 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc |
$3.095 |
-2.0 cents |
$4.709 (6/21/08) |
|
|
|
|
Riverside – San Bernardino |
$2.983 |
-1.7 cents |
$4.688 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
Ventura |
$3.023 |
-1.8 cents |
$4.689 (10/7/12) |
|
|
|
|
Bakersfield |
$2.945 |
+0.9 cent |
$4.648 (10/9/12) |