The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County dropped to its lowest amount since Sept. 20 Tuesday, decreasing nine-tenths of a cent to $5.493.
The average price has dropped 38 times in 41 days since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, decreasing $1.001, including 1 cent Monday, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. The average price is 2.8 cents less than one week ago and 66.2 cents lower than one month ago, but 82.1 cents more than one year ago.
The Orange County average price dropped to its lowest amount since Sept. 16, decreasing 1.1 cents to $5.387. It has dropped 35 times in 41 days since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5, decreasing $1.072, including six-tenths of a cent Monday.
The Orange County average price is 2.5 cents less than one week ago and 64.7 cents lower than one month ago, but 75.2 cents more than one year ago.
The national average price dropped for the sixth consecutive day following a run of six increases in seven days totaling 4 cents, decreasing 1.4 cents to $3.759. It is 4.5 cents less than one week ago and 13.3 cents lower than one month ago, but 34.4 cents more than one year ago.
The national average price has dropped 4.6 cents over the past six days, including three-tenths of a cent Monday. It is $1.257 lower than the record $5.016 set June 14.
“After rising the week prior, the national average has changed directions again, posting a modest weekly decline with prices dropping in a majority of states,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations.
“The decline has been partly driven by Great Lakes states, where prices fell by 15-25 cents per gallon due to an improvement in the refining situation, and also oil prices, which fell back under $90 per barrel last week. With oil prices remaining volatile, the outlook is murky, but I’m hopeful in the lead up to Thanksgiving we’ll see prices declining in more states, while others may not be quite as lucky.
“Regardless, we’ll still be seeing the most expensive Thanksgiving Day prices on record.”