The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County Monday recorded its second smallest increase during a 21-day streak of rising prices that pushed it to its highest amount since July 21, 2015.
The average price rose two-tenths of a cent Monday to $4.258, one day after increasing four-tenths of a cent, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose one-tenth of a cent on Sept. 21.
The average price has increased 58.6 cents during the streak. It is 14.1 cents higher than one week ago, 57.8 cents more than one month ago and 37.9 cents greater than one year ago. It has risen 86.7 cents since the start of the year.
The Orange County average price dropped one-tenth of a cent Monday for the second consecutive day following a 12-day streak of increases totaling 46.9 cents that pushed it to its highest amount since July 21, 2015.
The Orange County average price of $4.221 is 12.7 cents more than one week ago, 57.1 cents higher than one month ago and 38.7 cents greater than one year ago. It has risen 87.2 cents since the start of the year.
Gas prices began increasing rapidly last month after Saudi Arabia oil production facilities were attacked, and the increases sharpened after three Los Angeles-area refineries slowed or halted production due to maintenance issues and no imported gasoline was available to make up for the shortfall, according to Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.
Local refineries had already cut back production of summer blend gasoline in anticipation of switching to selling the winter blend beginning Nov. 1, creating even more of a shortage.