LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose three-tenths of a cent today to $4.186, its highest amount since Oct. 20, 2019.
The average price has increased 27 of the past 28 days, increasing 16 cents, including four-tenths of a cent both Wednesday and Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price rose 21 consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent on Saturday and resumed rising Sunday. It is 1.5 cents more than one week ago, 16.2 cents higher than one month ago and $1.282 greater than one year ago.
The average price has risen 95.4 cents since the start of the year, mainly because of a run of 59 increases in 60 days totaling 57.9 cents that ended March 21.
The Orange County average price rose one-tenth of a cent to $4.139, one day after dropping two-tenths of a cent to $4.138. It is nine-tenths of a cent more than one week ago, 14.5 cents higher than one month ago and $1.275 greater than one year ago.
The Orange County average price has risen 93.1 cents since the start of the year mainly because of a run of 72 increases in 73 days totaling 68.1 cents that ended March 20.
“According to Oil Price Information Service, California-blend gasoline from overseas arrived this week in Southern California, minimizing local price increases," said Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.
“The imports are helping to relieve an ongoing shortage of refinery gasoline production and inventory statewide. However, an unplanned outage last week at a Northern California refinery could further impact Southern California fuel supplies and prices in coming weeks."
The large price increases from one year ago are the result of significant decreases during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic, when driving and demand dropped substantially because of stay-at-home orders intended to reduce the spread of the virus.
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