The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose 11.8 cents Friday to $3.761, as refinery shortfalls caused a record weekly increase, 44 cents.
“Three oil companies are buying spot market gasoline in Southern California because of refinery shortfalls,” said
Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, citing information from Platts, an energy information provider.
The shortage could become worse as the Chevron refinery in El Segundo goes offline Friday for maintenance, Spring said.
The average price has risen for 16 consecutive days, increasing 63.1 cents, to its highest amount since Sept. 19, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 52.9 cents more than one month ago but 55.9 cents less than one year ago.
The Orange County average price rose 11.5 cents Friday to $3.749, part of a record 44.3-cent weekly increase. It has risen 16 consecutive days, increasing 65.6 cents, to its highest amount since Sept. 15. It is 55.7 cents more than one month ago but 56.1 cents less than one year ago.
—City News Service