(LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2009) – Gas prices continued floating down by about half a penny a day over the past week as more and more Southland gas stations posted prices under $2 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 $2.141 per gallon, which is 3.4 cents less than last week, 13 cents lower than last month, and $1.48 less than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.165, which is 3.2 cents less than last week’s price, 14 cents below last month, and $1.48 lower than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.242, down 2.5 cents from last week, 12 cents below last month, and $1.49 below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $2.133, which is 3.3 cents under last week, 13 cents less than last month, and $1.49 less than last year.
“Gas prices continue to trend downward in Southern California as most of the rest of the country is experiencing slight price increases,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “It’s widely expected that we are unlikely to see the gigantic leaps of last spring that brought prices over $4.50 a gallon. During these coming weeks, drivers are likely to see ever-bigger savings between what they are paying this year vs. last year, even if local prices reverse course and head up.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 3:07 a.m. on March 20.
Area | Regular | One-week change | 2008 Lowest Price | Record Price |
Los Angeles – Long Beach | $2.141 | - 3.4 cents | $1.720 (12/16/08) | $4.626 (6/21/08) |
Orange County | $2.125 | - 3.4 cents | $1.707 (12/17/08) | $4.598 (6/19/08) |
San Diego | $2.165 | - 3.2 cents | $1.707 (12/15/08) | $4.630 (6/19/08) |
Santa Barbara – Santa Maria – Lompoc | $2.242 | - 2.5 cents | $1.780 (12/16/08) | $4.709 (6/21/08) |
Riverside – San Bernardino | $2.133 | - 3.3 cents | $1.692 (12/16/08) | $4.614 (6/22/08) |
Bakersfield | $2.247 | - 3.8 cents | $1.785 (12/15/08) | $4.591 (6/24/08) |
Ventura | $2.162 | - 3.4 cents | $1.737 (12/16/08) | $4.625 (6/18/08) |