The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Tuesday for the sixth consecutive day, increasing 1.5 cents to $4.783.
The average price has increased 16.1 cents over the past six days, including seven-tenths of a cent Monday and 7.7 cents Friday, its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.
The increases are the result of “some planned and unplanned refinery maintenance and stronger futures expectations for gas prices,” according to Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, citing information from the Oil Price Information Service.
The average price is 15.5 cents more than one week ago, 6.1 cents higher than one month ago and 26.3 cents greater than one year ago. It has decreased $1.71 since rising to a record $6.493 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The Orange County average price also rose for the sixth consecutive day, increasing 1.8 cents to $4.748. It has increased 18 cents over the past six days, including three-tenths of a cent Monday and 8.9 cents Friday, its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023.
The Orange County average price is 17.8 cents more than one week ago, 5.6 cents more than one month ago and 33.1 cents greater than one year ago. It has decreased $1.71 since rising to a record $6.458 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The national average price rose 1.7 cents to $3.053, one day after being unchanged. It is nine-tenths of a cent more than one week ago but 8.7 cents less than one month ago and 4.8 cents lower than one year ago.
The national average price has dropped $1.963 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.
“The national average once again briefly dipped below the $3 per gallon mark, but the drop will be short-lived,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations, said in a statement released Monday.
“Gas prices are likely to rebound soon in the Great Lakes states due to ongoing refinery challenges, while a new snag at a California refinery may slow the pace of declines on the West Coast.
“To top it off, OPEC+ announced another boost to oil production for December over the weekend, though they also signaled a pause in further increases from January through March.
“For now, expect the national average to hover in the low-$3 range, potentially drifting lower once refinery issues are resolved.”