The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped Friday for the 24th time in 25 days, decreasing 2.4 cents to $4.458.
The average price has dropped 31 cents over the past 25 days, including 2.8 cents Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. It dropped six consecutive days, rose two-tenths of a cent Nov. 17 and resumed decreasing the following day.
The average price is 11.6 cents less than one week ago and 23.4 cents lower than one month ago, but 15.4 cents more than one year ago. It has dropped $1.915 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“This is the typical time of year when gasoline demand drops, and pump prices usually drop as well in December,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, said in a statement released Thursday.
“Nationally, the gas price average dropped below $3 a gallon this week for the first time since 2021.”
The national average price dropped for the 14th time in 15 days, decreasing 1.3 cents to $2.978. It has dropped 12.2 cents over the past 15 days, including eight-tenths of cent Thursday.
The national average price dropped 12 consecutive days, rose one-tenth of a cent Wednesday, then resumed decreasing Thursday. It is 4.4 cents less than one week ago, 10.1 cents lower than one month ago and 5.4 cents below what it was one year ago.
The national average price has dropped $2.038 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.