The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose Saturday for the sixth time in seven days, increasing 1.1 cents to 4.214, its highest amount since May 10, 2014.
The average price has increased 3.8 cents over the past seven days, including eight-tenths of a cent on Friday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 3.8 cents higher than one week ago, 11 cents more than one month ago and $1.171 greater than a year ago.
The Chevron refinery in El Segundo and Phillips 66 refinery both reported flaring incidents to the South Coast Air Quality Management District in recent days, Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, told City News Service.
“Typically, that means an interruption in production,” reduced supplies and higher prices, Spring said.
The average price has risen $1.039 since the start of the year, including 70.4 cents during a run of 82 increases in 84 days that ended March 30.
“The biggest reasons for prices increasing as much as they have in the past six months is the fact that oil increased to $73 per barrel from less than $49 per barrel since January and increased demand because of more people returning to a work commute,” Spring said.
The large price increases from one year ago are partially the result of significant decreases during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic, when driving and demand dropped substantially because of stay-at-home orders intended to reduce the spread of the virus.