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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 Oct. 25, 2012, increasing a half-cent to $4.328.
The average price has increased 19 of the past 21 days, rising 8.2 cents, including three-tenths of a cent Sunday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. Sunday's average price of $4.323 was the highest since April 30, 2014.
The average price is 2.6 cents more than one week ago, 8.9 cents higher than one month ago and $1.23 greater than one year ago. It has risen $1.096 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.
The Orange County average price dropped two-tenths of a cent to $4.284, ending a run of 13 increases in 15 days totaling 8.3 cents that lifted it to its highest amount since May 6, 2014.
The Orange County average price is 2.3 cents more than one week ago, 9.2 cents higher than one month ago and $1.206 greater than one year ago. It has risen $1.076 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 mainly 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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