(LOS ANGELES – Feb. 16, 2012) –Southern California gas prices shot upward by double digits in most areas over the past week, 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 $3.947 per gallon, which 12.7 cents more than last week, 21.5 cents higher than last month, and 47 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.944, an increase of 13.2 cents from last week, 22 cents above last month, and 46 cents higher than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.978, up 12 cents from last week, 22 cents higher than a month ago, and 45 cents above last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.903, up 11.2 cents from last week, 18.7 cents higher than last month, and 45 cents more than last year.
“These large increases are not unusual for mid-February, although we typically see them more often in March and April,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Unfortunately, even without this large increase, prices were already at record levels for February. If prices continue to increase at this pace, most areas will have averages above $4 a gallon in the next few week.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of noon on Feb. 16, averages are:
Area | Regular | One-week change | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $3.947 | +12.7 cents | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $3.939 | +13.0 cents | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $3.944 | +13.2 cents | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $3.978 | +12.0 cents | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $3.903 | +11.2 cents | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $3.870 | +9.4 cents | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $3.939 | +13.3 cents | $4.625 (6/18/08) |