The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Friday for the 16th consecutive day, increasing 1.8 cents to $4.595, its highest amount since Dec. 10.
The average price has risen 23.8 cents over the past 16 days, including 2.3 cents on Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 10.9 cents more than one week ago and 23.5 cents higher than one month ago, but 15.6 cents less than one year ago.
The average price has dropped $1.899 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The Orange County average price also rose for the 16th consecutive day, increasing 2.1 cents to $4.518, its highest amount since Dec. 9. It has risen 27.5 cents over the past 16 days, including 2.1 cents on Thursday.
The Orange County average price is 11.5 cents more than one week ago and 28 cents higher than one month ago, but 22 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.941 since rising to a record $6.459 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 run of nine increases in 11 days totaling 7.4 cents to the national average price ended with a decrease of four-tenths of a cent to $2.94. It is 4 cents more than one week ago and 12 cents higher than one month ago, but 22 cents less than one year ago.
The national average price has dropped $2.076 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.
The run began with five consecutive increases, then dropped two-tenths of a cent on Saturday and one-tenth of a cent on Sunday. The average price resumed rising on Monday. It increased seven-tenths of a cent on Thursday.