The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County increased for the 16th consecutive day Sunday, rising six-tenths of a cent to $4.626.
The average price has risen 26.4 cents over the past 16 days, including 2.7 cents Saturday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The streak of rising prices follows a run of 10 decreases in 11 days that dropped the average price to its lowest amount since Dec. 31, 2022.
The average price is 7.8 cents more than one week ago, 11.3 cents more than one month ago and 7.5 cents more than one year ago. It has dropped $1.747 since rising to a record $6.373 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.”