(LOS ANGELES – March 1, 2012) –Southern California gas prices are now within 30 cents of their all-time records set in 2008 after three straight weeks of double-digit increases and the biggest one-month price jump in history, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.368 per gallon, which is 18.2 cents more than last week, 57.6 cents higher than last month, and 59 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $4.366, an increase of 18.7 cents over last week, 58.7 cents above last month, and 59 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.40, up 20.2 cents from last week, 43 cents higher than a month ago, and 56 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $4.345, up 20.3 cents from last week, 58.7 cents higher than last month, and 59 cents more than last year.
“Southern California drivers are now paying more than those in Honolulu, where prices are averaging $4.22 a gallon, and the state average price of $4.334 is almost as high as Hawaii’s state average of $4.351,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “There’s not much defense that drivers have against these soaring prices other than aggressively shopping for the lowest price and maximizing their personal fuel economy.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 11 a.m. on March 1, averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $4.368 | +18.2 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $4.356 | +17.0 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $4.366 | +18.7 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $4.400 | +20.2 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $4.345 | +20.3 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $4.334 | +19.8 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $4.360 | +17.4 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |