LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County dropped two-tenths of a cent today to $3.565, one day after rising one-tenth of a cent.
The average price is six-tenths of a cent less than one week ago and 3.4 cents lower than one month ago but 21.1 cents more than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped 5 cents since the start of the year.
The Orange County average price dropped two-tenths of a cent to $3.516, one day after decreasing one-tenth of a cent. It is a half-cent less than one week ago and 3 cents lower than one month ago but 20.5 cents more than one year ago. The Orange County average price has dropped 2.9 cents since the start of the year.
“It's too early” to know if the fire at the Marathon Petroleum Refinery in Carson earlier this week will cause gas prices to rise, Marie Montgomery, a public relations specialist with the Automobile Club of Southern California, told City News Service.
“It depends on the extent and nature of the damage,” Montgomery said. “Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices were briefly trading higher (Wednesday) but ended up just a penny higher than (Tuesday).”
The facility “is the largest refinery on the West Coast with a crude oil capacity of 363,000 barrels per calendar day,” according to the company's website. The fire was reported at the refinery at 2350 E. 223rd St. about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, and was largely brought under control about six hours later.
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