Spurred by supply worries caused by refinery problems, Southern California gas prices spiked by nearly three cents a day over the past week, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.57 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is 18 cents higher than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.64 per gallon, which is 20 cents higher than last week, 29 cents higher than last month, and eight cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.58, which is up 19 cents from last Thursday, 27 cents higher than last month, and six cents higher than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.63, which is 18 cents higher than last week, 26 cents higher than last month, and six cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.54, which is 19 cents higher than last week, 25 cents higher than last month, and seven cents higher than last year. In San Bernardino, the $3.55 average price is 19 cents higher than last week, 25 cents higher than last month, and seven cents higher than a year ago today.
“Refinery problems in Carson and Torrance, along with rising oil costs, have pushed up Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices for nearly two weeks,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “However, as of Wednesday, wholesale prices dropped on news of increased gasoline imports to Southern California, and oil prices have also dropped. That could mean an end to rising pump prices in the coming days.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on March 28, averages are:
|
Area |
Regular |
1-week change |
Record Price |
|
Los Angeles – Long Beach |
$3.64 |
+20 cents |
$4.70 (10/9/12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orange County |
$3.59 |
+20 cents |
$4.69 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
San Diego |
$3.58 |
+19 cents |
$4.72 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria –Lompoc |
$3.63 |
+18 cents |
$4.70 (6/21/08) |
|
|
|||
|
Riverside |
$3.54 |
+19 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
San Bernardino |
$3.55 |
+19 cents |
$4.68 (10/8/12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ventura |
$3.61 |
+19 cents |
$4.68 (10/7/12) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bakersfield |
$3.48 |
+13 cents |
$4.64 (10/9/12) |