The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped four-tenths of a cent Saturday to $4.771, its third consecutive decrease.
The average price is seven-tenths of a cent less than one week ago and $1.162 lower than one year ago but 1.3 cents more than one month ago, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.602 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, including two-tenths of a cent Friday and a half-cent Thursday.
The national average price rose three-tenths of a cent to $3.504. It has risen four consecutive days, increasing 6.9 cents, including 1.3 cents Friday.
The national average price is 6.4 cents more than one week ago and 14.5 cents higher than one month ago but 71.1 cents less than one year ago. It has decreased $1.512 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14.
“Oil prices finally crested and have now settled above the $70 per barrel mark after weeks of hovering just below it and gas demand is very robust,” said Andrew Gross, an AAA national public relations manager. “These two factors will cause drivers to see prices increase for now.”