The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Friday for the ninth consecutive day, increasing 1.9 cents to $4.486.
The average price has risen 12.9 cents over the past nine days, including 1.9 cents on Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 10.7 cents more than one week ago and 7.6 cents higher than one month ago but 10.6 cents less than one year ago.
The average price has dropped $2.008 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The Orange County average price also rose for the ninth consecutive day, increasing 2.1 cents to $4.303. It has risen 16 cents over the past nine days, including 2.4 cents on Thursday.
The Orange County average price is 12 cents more than one week ago and 10.8 cents higher than one month ago, but 15.1 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $2.056 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“April 1 is the deadline by which Southern California gas stations have to start selling summer-blend gasoline to meet air quality requirements, but refineries start producing and shipping summer blend at the end of January to make sure they meet that deadline,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, said in a statement released Thursday.
“Summer-blend gasoline is more expensive to produce, which increases prices at the pump. Additionally, a refinery closure in Northern California is currently underway, which will reduce gas production capacity statewide and is also expected to increase gas prices.”
The national average price rose for the fifth consecutive day, increasing nine-tenths of a cent to $2.90. It has risen 3 cents over the past five days, including four-tenths of a cent Thursday. The streak of rising prices began one day after a four-day streak of decreases totaling 1.8 cents ended when it was unchanged.
The national average price is 2.7 cents more than one week ago and 8.5 cents higher than one month ago, but 23.8 cents lower than one year ago. It has dropped $2.116 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.