The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose 2.5 cents for the second consecutive day Saturday, to $4.202.
The average price is 7 cents more than one week ago and 2.8 cents more than one month ago, but 17.1 cents less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $2.171 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“California’s statewide gas price average and metro averages in Northern California increased more significantly than metro averages in Southern California because of an announcement that the Valero refinery in Benicia will be closing in the next week or two and not in April as previously expected, according to Oil Price Information Service,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, said in a statement released Thursday.
“Although Southern California gas stations do not receive fuel from that refinery, the closure will affect the overall statewide supply of gasoline and increase the need for imported fuel, which is more expensive.”
The national average price dropped three-tenths of a cent to $2.87. The national average price is eight-tenths of a cent more than one week ago and 3.1 cents more than one month ago, but 24 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $2.146 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.