The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose for the 17th consecutive day Sunday, inching up three-tenths of a cent to $4.75.
The average price has risen 21.1 cents over the past 17 days, including 1.8 cents Saturday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The streak of rising prices began one day after the end of an 20-day streak of decreases that dropped the average price to its lowest amount since Jan. 24, 2023.
The average price is 6.7 cents more than one week ago, 8.3 cents more than one month ago and 5.3 cents more than one year ago. It has dropped $1.744 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The Orange County average price rose for the 16th time in the last 17 days, increasing 1.3 cents to $4.719. It has risen 28.9 cents over the past 17 days, including 2.2 cents Saturday. The Orange County average price is 9.7 cents more than one week ago, 15.2 cents more than one month ago and 6.1 cents more than one year ago. It has dropped $1.74 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The national average price rose for the fifth consecutive day, increasing six-tenths of a cent to $3.189. It is 4.2 cents more than one week ago and 11.2 cents more than one month ago, but 23.5 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.827 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.
Seasonal demand trends, higher costs for oil and routine refinery maintenance will likely push pump prices slowly higher soon, according to Andrew Gross, an AAA national public relations manager.
“It feels like being in a car with a cold battery, cranking away yet slow to turn over,” Gross said. “But gas prices will likely start increasing around Valentine’s Day.”