LOS ANGELES- Southern California gas price averages have risen by about 60 cents per gallon since mid-December and are now about 20 cents higher than a year ago today, when prices had started to drop due to the pandemic, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. Today’s retail statewide average is $3.71 a gallon for regular unleaded, which is eight cents higher than last week.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.77 per gallon, which is six cents higher than last week, 27 cents higher than last month, and 23 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.75, which is seven cents higher than last week, 29 cents more than than last month, and 22 cents higher than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.71, which is seven cents higher than last week, 29 cents higher than last month, and 15 cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $3.70, which is seven cents higher than last week, 28 cents higher than last month, and 23 cents higher than last year. In Bakersfield, the $3.61 average price is nine cents higher than last week, 28 cents higher than last month, and 11 cents higher than a year ago today.
“The pace of gas price increases has slowed down, indicating that the temporary supply squeeze at the end of February due to a gasoline shortage in Arizona is winding down,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “However, investment in California gasoline futures remains strong in anticipation of increased demand when more of the population is vaccinated.”
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on March 4, averages are:
