(LOS ANGELES, June 17, 2005) — A nine-week decline in gasoline prices appears to be ending with a gloomy prospect for prices during the rest of June, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.
Although prices in most areas are slightly lower than a week ago, several cities have seen a slight uptick in prices for the past day or two. The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles–Long Beach area is $2.361, which is 1.2 cents lower than last week, 14 cents lower than last month and three cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.376, one-tenth of a cent below last week, 14 cents below last month and six cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.483, down 2.3 cents from last week, 15 cents lower than last month and two cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.349, down nine-tenths of a cent from last week, 17 cents below last month and the same as last year.
"The prices of crude oil and gasoline on the wholesale market have jumped 15 percent in the past two weeks," said Auto Club spokesperson Paul Gonzales. "Pump prices appear to be at or near their low point. It's likely that gas prices will rise steadily for the next few weeks."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., June 17.
| Area | Regular | Change | Record Price |
| Los Angeles–Long Beach | $2.361 | - 1.2 cents | $2.625 (04/13/2005) |
| Orange County | $2.351 | - 1.2 cents | $2.605 (04/21/2005) |
| San Diego | $2.376 | - 0.1 cents | $2.626 (04/12/2005) |
| Santa Barbara–Santa Maria–Lompoc | $2.483 | - 2.3 cents | $2.730 (04/29/2005) |
| Riverside–San Bernardino | $2.349 | - 0.9 cents | $2.649 (04/13/2005) |
| Bakersfield | $2.362 | + 1.1 cents | $2.682 (04/22/2005) |
| Las Vegas, NV | $2.282 | - 0.7 cents | $2.534 (04/14/2005) |
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