Photo: AFP
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose today for the 15th time in 16 days, increasing four-tenths of a cent to $4.308, its highest amount since May 3, 2014.
The average price has increased 6.2 cents over the past 16 days, including two-tenths of a cent Tuesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 3.9 cents more than one week ago, 8.5 cents higher than one month ago and $1.225 greater than one year ago.
The average price has risen $1.076 since the start of the year because of a sharp increase in the oil price and increased demand due to more people driving to work, according to Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.
In Orange County, a run of nine increases in 10 days to the average price ended with a decrease of one-tenth of a cent to $4.264. It had increased 6.2 cents over the previous 10 days, including four-tenths of a cent Tuesday, to its highest amount since July 17, 2015.
The Orange County average price is 3.4 cents more than one week ago, 8.9 cents higher than one month ago and $1.209 greater than one year ago. It has risen $1.056 since the start of the year, including 68.1 cents during a run of 72 increases in 73 days that ended March 20.
The large price increases from one year ago are partially 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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