The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County was unchanged Tuesday, remaining at $4.809, one day after rising two-tenths of a cent.
The average price is 4 cents more than one week ago and 23.4 cents higher than one month ago but three-tenths of a cent less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.685 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The Orange County average price rose two-tenths of a cent to $4.766, one day after rising three-tenths of a cent. It is 3.4 cents more than one week ago and 30.3 cents higher than one month ago, but 1.6 cents less than one year ago.
The Orange County average price has dropped $1.693 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The national average price dropped for the third time in four days following a 10-day streak of increases totaling 13.9 cents, decreasing three-tenths of a cent to $3.276. It is 5.1 cents more than one week ago and 19.4 cents higher than one month ago but 13.4 cents less than one year ago.
The national average price dropped two-tenths of a cent Saturday and three-tenths of a cent Sunday and was unchanged Monday. It has dropped $1.74 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.
“Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine’s is over, and gas prices are going anywhere but lower,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations.
“With Valentine’s Day now behind us, we have officially entered the time of year when gas prices traditionally start their spring fling, but we’ve already seen the streak of consecutive increases in the national average hit four weeks. While the early start could also mean an early end, we still have as many as eight weeks before gas prices typically increase, and anything can happen between now and then.
“One of the most critical elements to how much gas prices will climb is how quickly and effectively refiners can finish their pre-summer maintenance, start producing EPA-mandated summer gasoline, and build up supply of it before Memorial Day.”