Some refinery trouble, the impending switch to summer-blend gasoline, and the lifting of the state’s stay-at-home orders combined to push gas prices up in Southern California for the sixth straight week, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. Today’s retail statewide average is $3.40 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is four cents higher than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.44 per gallon, which is eight cents higher than last week, 22 cents higher than last month, and 16 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is also $3.40, which is five cents higher than last week, 19 cents more than than last month, and 14 cents lower than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.37, which is four cents higher than last week, 16 cents higher than last month, and 25 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.35, which is five cents higher than last week, 19 cents higher than last month, and 14 cents lower than last year. In Bakersfield, the $3.30 average price is two cents higher than last week, 16 cents higher than last month, and 29 cents lower than a year ago today.
“The Valero refinery in Wilmington is reportedly having some unplanned maintenance issues that are expected to last into February,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “In addition, Southern California refineries have already switched over to making the more expensive summer-blend gasoline, which will be in the distribution chain next week, and the governor’s lifting of stay-at-home orders is expected to increase demand.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 28, averages are:
