After weeks of stability, local gas prices have been rising over the last week while some Southern Californians are filling up for holiday drives and travel, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. Today’s retail statewide average is $3.21 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 $3.19 per gallon, which is four cents higher than last week, five cents higher than last month, and 45 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.19, which is three cents higher than last week, five cents more than than last month, and 44 cents lower than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.20, which is the same as last week, one cent higher than last month, and 53 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.14, which is three cents higher than last week, four cents higher than last month, and 38 cents lower than last year. In Bakersfield, the $3.13 average price is one cent higher than last week, two cents higher than last month, and 60 cents lower than a year ago today.
“The Auto Club is projecting a steep decline in the number of holiday travelers because of stay-at-home orders and concerns about the pandemic,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “Although travel will be very light compared to last year, there is a bump in demand compared to prior weeks because of holiday travel, and wholesale gasoline prices have also jumped after increased investor activity.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Dec. 24, averages are:
