After nearly two months of declines, Southern California gas prices reversed course in the last week and in some areas are now moving up very rapidly in response to higher oil and wholesale gas prices, 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 $3.767 per gallon, which is 7.5 cents more than last week, 20 cents lower than last month, and 5 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.744, 6.8 cents above last week, 20 cents below last month, and 7 cents lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.813, up 4.2 cents from last week, 22 cents lower than a month ago, and 5 cents below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.715, up 6 cents from last week, 22 cents lower than last month, and 8 cents less than last year.
“Other parts of the country have been experiencing price increases for a few weeks in response to higher oil prices and Southern California gas prices are now starting to reflect those increased costs,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Local drivers briefly saw some of the lowest prices of the year last week, but prices are now rising by a penny a day or more in many cities.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 8 a.m. on July 19, averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $3.767 | +7.5 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $3.740 | +9.7 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $3.744 | +6.8 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $3.813 | +4.2 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $3.715 | +6.0 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $3.755 | +0.6 cent | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $3.761 | +7.9 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |