Southern California gas price averages are hovering near $4.10 a gallon for the second week in a row after a 25-cent spike caused in early August by the Chevron refinery fire in Richmond, 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 $4.119 per gallon, which is four-tenths of one cent more than last week, 31 cents higher than last month, and 40 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $4.102, two-tenths of a cent above last week, 31 cents above last month, and 37 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.148, up 1.6 cents from last week, 30 cents higher than a month ago, and 39 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $4.095, up half a penny from last week, 33 cents higher than last month, and 39 cents more than last year.
“Unfortunately, the price spike in early August means that Labor Day weekend travelers will be paying the highest gas prices ever for that holiday,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “There are some forces at work that could further nudge up prices, such as crude oil trading near $100 a barrel, but at the moment local prices are holding steady.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Aug. 23, averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $4.119 | +0.4 cent | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $4.096 | +0.2 cent | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $4.102 | +0.2 cent | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $4.148 | +1.6 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $4.095 | +0.5 cent | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $4.117 | +4.1 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $4.111 | +1.4 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |