LA’s Nine-Day Streak Surging Gas Prices Ends

A nine-day streak of increases that boosted the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County to its highest amount since June 24 ended Friday when it was unchanged, remaining at $4.614.

The average price rose 13.8 cents during the streak, including eight-tenths of a cent Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

The average price is 9 cents more than one week ago, 14.9 cents higher than one month ago and 3.7 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.879 since rising to a record $6.493 on Oct. 5, 2022.

The Orange County average price rose to its highest amount since June 11, increasing two-tenths of a cent to $4.579. It has risen nine consecutive days, increasing 13.7 cents, including eight-tenths of a cent Thursday.

The Orange County average price is 7.5 cents more than one week ago, 17.4 cents higher than one month ago and 7.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.879 since rising to a record $6.458 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Most of the recent price increases at the pump happened last weekend after a spike in Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices due to some unplanned refinery maintenance, according to Oil Price Information Service,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, said in a statement.

“Also, for the first time this year in some Southern California areas, pump prices are higher than they were on this date in 2024.”

A nine-day streak of increases to the national average price totaling 8 cents ended with a decrease of nine-tenths of a cent to $3.201. The increases followed a five-day streak of decreases totaling 3 cents.

The national average price is 6 cents more than one week ago and 6.5 cents higher than one month ago but 15.9 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.815 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.