(LOS ANGELES, September 1, 2006) — Gasoline prices in most Southern California areas continued to drop significantly this week, and more individual stations in the Los Angeles–Orange County area listed prices below $3 a gallon, 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 $3.118, which is more than six cents lower than last week, more than 13 cents lower than last month and 29 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $3.105, 8.4 cents below last week’s price, 19 cents below last month and 24 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.340, down 1.5 cents from last week, four cents below last month and 43 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $3.137, down 6.8 cents from last week, 14 cents below last month and 30 cents higher than last year.
“Numerous positive factors are contributing to the price drops we’re seeing now,” said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. “The price of oil per barrel is below $70, we’re coming to the end of the summer driving season and peak gasoline use with the Labor Day holiday, and there’s an increase in gasoline inventories. There have also been fewer hurricanes and tropical storms than we had last year, and none with the impact of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on oil supplies.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., August 31:
Area | Regular | Change from | Record Price |
Los Angeles–Long Beach | $3.118 | - 6.7 cents | $3.402 (5/13/2006) |
Orange County | $3.074 | - 7.4 cents | $3.371 (5/17/2006) |
San Diego | $3.105 | - 8.4 cents | $3.438 (5/15/2006) |
Santa Barbara–Santa Maria- Lompoc | $3.340 | - 1.5 cents | $3.491 (5/16/2006) |
Riverside–San Bernardino | $3.137 | - 6.8 cents | $3.445 (5/15/2006) |
Bakersfield | $3.098 | - 6.0 cents | $3.450 (5/16/2006) |
Las Vegas , NV | $2.980 | - 1.3 cents | $3.176 (5/17/2006) |
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