The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Thursday to its highest amount since Dec. 22, thanks its second consecutive 2.8-cent increase.
The average price has increased 15 of the past 16 days, rising 8.8 cents to $3.438, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The 2.8-cent increase Wednesday was the largest daily increase since Dec. 19.
The average price is 6.9 cents more than one week ago and 8.8 cents higher than one month ago but 7.9 cents less than one year ago.
The Orange County average price Thursday rose to its highest amount since Dec. 23, thanks to its largest daily increase since Dec. 19, 3.3 cents. The Orange County average price of $3.389 is 7.2 cents more than one week ago and 7.4 cents higher than one month ago but 9.3 cents less than one year ago.
The increases coincide with three known refinery issues in California — a fire at the Phillips 66 refinery in Carson Friday night that shut down one unit, some planned flaring at the PBF Energy refinery in Torrance and some unplanned flaring up at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, Marie Montgomery of the Automobile Club of Southern California told City News Service.
“Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices had already been climbing steadily since the start of this month and they are now at their highest level since late October,” Montgomery said.