The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Wednesday for the sixth time in seven days, increasing eight-tenths of a cent to $2.891.
The average price is 3.2 cents more than a week ago and two-tenths of a cent higher than a month ago but $1.138 less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has decreased 72.4 cents since the start of the year.
The Orange County average price rose for the 15th consecutive day Wednesday, increasing six-tenths of a cent to $2.854. It has risen 8.4 cents over the past 15 days, including four-tenths of a cent on Tuesday after dropping 68 of the previous 70 days to its lowest amount since Dec. 28, 2016, decreasing 74.9 cents.
The Orange County average price is 4 cents more than one week ago but six-tenths of a cent less than one month ago and $1.147 lower than one year ago. It has dropped 69.1 cents since the start of the year.
The rising prices are the result of increasing demand, refineries that are still producing gasoline at a much lower rate compared to last year and rising oil prices, according to Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.
The crude oil price and supply and demand are the most important factors in the gas price, Spring said.