The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose three-tenths of a cent Tuesday, its eighth consecutive increase, to $4.937.
The average price has increased 7 cents over the past eight days, including four-tenths of a cent Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 4.9 cents more than one week ago, but 1.2 cents less than one month ago and 92.5 cents lower than one year ago.
The average price has dropped $1.557 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5.
The Orange County average price resumed increasing, rising three-tenths of a cent to $4.915, one day after a streak of eight consecutive increases totaling 9.2 cents ended when it dropped one-tenth of a cent.
The Orange County average price is 6.1 cents more than one week ago and eight-tenths of a cent higher than one month ago but 90.4 cents lower than one year ago. It has dropped $1.544 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5.
The national average price rose for the 14th consecutive day, increasing four-tenths of a cent to $3.608. It has increased 17.3 cents over the past 14 days, including three-tenths of a cent Monday.
The national average price is 10.1 cents more than one week ago and 13.4 cents higher than one month ago, but 50.6 cents less the one year ago. It has dropped $1.408 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14.
“The national average price of gasoline has continued its relatively slow climb, with 44 states seeing average gasoline prices climb over the last week,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations.
“Prices are being pulled up not only due to continued increases in demand as temperatures warm, but also pressure from oil prices, which have risen over 20% in the last month, primarily driven by OPEC’s surprise decision a week ago to cut oil production.
“Expect the upward trend to continue through much of the rest of spring, but once the transition to summer gasoline and refinery maintenance are behind us, April and May jumps could bring June slumps.”