The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose Saturday for the 23rd time in 24 days, increasing 1 cent to $4.457, its highest amount since Dec. 5.
The average price is 12.7 cents more than one week ago and 33.7 cents more than one month ago, but 19 cents less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.916 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The increases are the result of the closure of a Northern California refinery, Southern California refinery maintenance and summer blend gasoline production, according to Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.
“Southern California gas prices have increased rapidly in the past two weeks, but not nearly as much as in Northern California, which is directly impacted by its refinery shutdown in Benicia,” Shupe said in a statement released Thursday.
The national average price dropped 1 cent to $2.93. It is 3.2 cents more than one week ago and 9 cents more than one month ago, but 23.5 cents less than one year ago. The national average price has dropped $2.086 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.