The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose for the 18th consecutive day Sunday, increasing a half-cent to $4.612, its highest amount since Dec. 8.
The average price has risen 25.5 cents over the past 18 days, including 1.2 cents Saturday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 9.6 cents more than one week ago and 25.8 cents more than one month ago, but 16 cents less than one year ago. The average price has dropped $1.882 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The Orange County average price also rose for the 18th consecutive day, increasing seven-tenths of a cent to $4.535, its highest amount since Dec. 8. It has risen 29.2 cents over the past 18 days, including 1 cent Saturday.
The Orange County average price is 10.1 cents more than one week ago and 29.6 cents more than one month ago, but 21.5 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.924 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5, 2022.
The increases are the result of the closure of a Northern California refinery, Southern California refinery maintenance and summer blend gasoline production, according to Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.
“Southern California gas prices have increased rapidly in the past two weeks, but not nearly as much as in Northern California, which is directly impacted by its refinery shutdown in Benicia,” Shupe said in a statement released Thursday.
The national average price dropped three-tenths of a cent to $2.927. It is 3 cents more than one week ago and 8.3 cents more than one month ago, but 23.3 cents less than one year ago. The national average price has dropped $2.089 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.