Southern California Gas Prices Drop For Fifth Week

For a fifth straight week, Southland gas prices have dropped closer to $3 a gallon, with some areas potentially poised to drop to average prices below $3 in the next week or two, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail state average is $3.103 a gallon for regular today, 13.1 cents less than last week.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.165 per gallon, which is 10.6 cents less than last week, 53 cents less than last month, and 57 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.100, which is 11.7 cents less than last week, 53 cents lower than last month, and 63 cents less than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.145, 9.6 cents less than last week, 49 cents lower than a month ago, and 61 cents less than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.080, 10.8 cents lower than last week, 55 cents less than last month, and 61 cents less than last year.

“The damaged Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance is reportedly not going to be operational again until at least February 2016,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “At the moment, the other Southern California refineries are making up the shortfall and prices are continuing to drop as they traditionally do in the fall months, but potential for price volatility still exists with the uncertain supply situation.”

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Sept. 24, averages are: 

Bakersfield                                          $3.015      -10.5 cents    $4.648 (10/9/12)