The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped two-tenths of a cent Saturday to $4.611.
The average price is eight-tenths of a cent more than one week ago, 6.5 cents more than one month ago and 16.9 cents more than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.762 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.
Experts indicated this week that the recent fire at Chevron’s El Segundo oil refinery — the state’s second largest — may not have the effect on gas prices that some initially feared.
“According to Oil Price Information Service and the California Energy Commission, gasoline inventories are higher than they were at this time a year ago, and supply has not yet been impacted by the El Segundo refinery fire,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, said in a statement.
“Also according to OPIS, Chevron filed a report with the state indicating the fire mainly damaged a unit that processes jet fuel. A Chevron spokesperson also stated they would be making `operational adjustments’ to resume refinery production to meet fuel demand.”
The national average price dropped for the ninth time in 10 days, decreasing 1.1 cents to $3.089. It is 5.1 cents less than one week ago, 10.5 cents less than one month ago and 11.9 cents less one year ago. The national average price has dropped $1.927 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.