Even though most Southern California areas posted net gas price drops for the week, prices have been heading up slightly in the last couple of days in most Southland cities after six straight weeks of declines, 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 $4.196 per gallon, which is two-tenths of a cent more than last week, 13 cents lower than last month, and 9 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the price is $4.186, 1.1 cents below last week, 13 cents below last month, and 8 cents lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.233, down 1 cent from last week, 14 cents lower than a month ago, and 7 cents below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $4.165, down 1 cent from last week, 15 cents lower than last month, and 9 cents less than last year.
“Unfortunately, most pump prices in Southern California are still well over $4 a gallon even after six weeks of price drops, and price averages are about 65 cents higher than at the start of the year,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Oil industry analysts say California inventories of gasoline are low and that could be contributing to the leveling off of prices.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 10 a.m. on May 3, averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $4.196 | +0.2 cent | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $4.173 | +1.0 cent | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $4.186 | -1.1 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $4.233 | -1.0 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $4.165 | -1.0 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $4.203 | -1.9 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $4.174 | -1.2 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |