LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose today to its highest amount since March 6, increasing one cent to $3.529.
The increase followed a drop of one-tenth of a cent on Tuesday – a drop that ended a 20-day streak of increases, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The average price has increased 18.1 cents over the past 22 days.
It is 4.2 cents more than one week ago and 24.5 cents higher than one month ago but 4.7 cents less than one year ago.
The Orange County average price rose to its highest amount since Feb. 28, increasing a half-cent to $3.509 -- the second straight daily hike after a drop interrupted a 33-day streak of increases.
The Orange County average price is 3.3 cents more than one week ago and 24.2 cents higher than a month ago but seven-tenths of a cent less than one year ago.
Gasoline prices have begun “the traditional spring run-up in prices that seems to start a little earlier each year, likely because of investor anticipation that prices will go up,'' according to Marie Montgomery, a public relations specialist with the Automobile Club of Southern California.
The resumption of rising crude oil prices, that briefly paused last week, is another factor, Montgomery told City News Service.
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