Southern California Gas Prices Continue to Rise
LOS ANGELES--Feb. 12, 2002--Southern California average gas prices increased for a second consecutive month rising above the average for the state and many Northern California sites for the first time since the Automobile Club of Southern California monthly Fuel Gauge Report started in October 1998.The Southern California average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.31, up from a Jan. 15 average of $1.19. The current price compares with a state average of $1.28, which is up from $1.22. While gas prices in Southern California rose, prices in Northern California rose slower or dropped in some regions.
San Jose motorists now pay an average of $1.17, down from $1.26 a month ago. Motorists in San Francisco are paying an average of $1.37, down from $1.43 in January.
The lowest average price in the state moved from La Habra to Concord, where regular self-serve gasoline is selling for $1.14 per gallon. Bakersfield has the lowest average price in Southern California at $1.19 per gallon of regular self-serve gasoline.
Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline fell a penny to $1.12.
"Gas prices today in Southern California are anything but typical in relation to the usual trends," said Jeffrey Spring, Auto Club spokesman. "The topsy-turvy prices between Southern and Northern California can be attributed to a price war in the north, where some retailers are selling at below cost."
Worldwide, there may be upward pressure put on gas prices due to speculation over increased strife in the Middle East. Crude oil closed at $21 per barrel yesterday, on rumors that oil from Iran or Iraq might become unavailable because either of them may be drawn into a military conflict.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
County Unl Pre Imperial County El Centro 1.414 1.589 Inyo County Bishop 1.499 1.621 Kern County Bakersfield 1.194 1.358 Ridgecrest 1.359 1.497 Los Angeles County Alhambra 1.219 1.339 Arcadia 1.279 1.459 Burbank 1.294 1.489 Culver City 1.323 1.539 Glendale 1.277 1.459 Glendora 1.257 1.438 Inglewood 1.262 1.439 Lancaster 1.310 1.459 Long Beach 1.270 1.451 Los Angeles 1.292 1.490 Manhattan Beach 1.239 1.379 Montebello 1.307 1.349 Santa Clarita 1.287 1.462 Santa Monica 1.302 1.499 Van Nuys 1.232 1.424 Whittier 1.262 1.503 Woodland Hills 1.302 1.499 Orange County Anaheim 1.257 1.443 Fullerton 1.240 1.416 Huntington Beach 1.259 1.411 La Habra 1.211 1.386 Laguna Beach 1.399 1.504 Newport Beach 1.330 1.478 San Clemente 1.363 1.534 Riverside County Blythe 1.499 1.603 Hemet 1.298 1.569 Palm Springs 1.399 1.514 Riverside 1.288 1.403 San Bernardino County Redlands 1.337 1.489 San Bernardino 1.311 1.597 Victorville 1.287 1.492 San Diego County Chula Vista 1.344 1.549 Del Mar 1.344 1.559 Escondido 1.324 1.531 Oceanside 1.343 1.534 San Diego 1.346 1.531 San Luis Obispo County San Luis Obispo 1.352 1.497 Santa Barbara County Lompoc 1.387 1.507 Santa Barbara 1.354 1.559 Santa Maria 1.358 1.539 Tulare County Porterville 1.310 1.448 Visalia 1.237 1.407 Ventura County Ventura 1.360 1.566 So. Calif. Avg. 1.313 1.485
The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs.
Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
