Investor activity and rising crude oil prices caused local gas prices to increase for the third straight week, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. Today’s retail statewide average is $3.27 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is three cents higher than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.26 per gallon, which is three cents higher than last week, nine cents higher than last month, and 34 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.25, which is two cents higher than last week, nine cents more than than last month, and 35 cents lower than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.26, which is two cents higher than last week, six cents higher than last month, and 42 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.19, which is one cent higher than last week, seven cents higher than last month, and 31 cents lower than last year. In Bakersfield, the $3.17 average price is three cents higher than last week, five cents higher than last month, and 50 cents lower than a year ago today.
“Futures buying and rising crude oil prices pushed California gasoline prices higher in the new year, although news of continued inventory growth yesterday from the California Energy Commission may reverse that trend,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 7, averages are:
