(LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2006) — Gasoline prices across the Southland moved higher for the second straight week as high summertime demand had its effect at the gas pump, 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 $3.294 which is 4.1 cents higher than last week, one cent higher than last month and 74 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.313, 5.3 cents above last week's price, three cents above last month and 71 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.430, up 3.2 cents from last week, the same as last month and 78 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $3.313, up 3.7 cents from last week, the same as last month and 77 cents higher than last year.
"Continued strong consumer demand for gas and tight inventories have been exacerbated this week by growing Middle East violence that has sent oil prices higher," said Auto Club spokesman Jeffery Spring. "Instability generally causes investors to buy into oil and gas markets where prices are rising. That usually pushes pump prices higher."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., July 14:
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.