The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County dropped two-tenths of a cent Friday for the second consecutive day to $4.491.
The average price is four-tenths of a cent more than one week ago and 8.8 cents higher than one month ago, but 4.8 cents less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $2.003 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The Orange County average price rose four-tenths of a cent to $4.436 after dropping 1.1 cents over the previous three days, including six-tenths of a cent Thursday. It is 1 cent less than one week ago but 9.4 cents more than one month ago and three-tenths of a cent higher than one year ago.
The Orange County average price has dropped $2.023 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“Oil Price Information Service reports that California gasoline production tumbled to its lowest level in the last year because of planned and unplanned refinery maintenance,” said Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.
“Typically at this time of year, refineries conduct maintenance projects as they switch to producing the more expensive `summer blend’ of gasoline, which must be sold at local gas stations as of April 1.”
A run of nine increases in 10 days totaling 7 cents to the national average price ended with a decrease of two-tenths of a cent to $3.133. It rose five consecutive days, was unchanged Sunday and resumed rising Monday.
The national average price is 1.8 cents more than one week ago, 9.2 cents higher than one month ago, and 3.7 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.883 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.