The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County Friday recorded its largest increase since Nov. 5, when it rose 4 cents, rising 2.5 cents to $4.177.
The average price has risen eight of the past nine days, increasing 5.4 cents, including 1.1 cents Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose six consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent Wednesday and resumed increasing Thursday.
The average price is 4.8 cents more than one week ago and 1.5 cents higher than one month ago but 19 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $2.196 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“California’s statewide gas price average and metro averages in Northern California increased more significantly than metro averages in Southern California because of an announcement that the Valero refinery in Benicia will be closing in the next week or two and not in April as previously expected, according to Oil Price Information Service,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager, said in a statement released Thursday.
“Although Southern California gas stations do not receive fuel from that refinery, the closure will affect the overall statewide supply of gasoline and increase the need for imported fuel, which is more expensive.”
The national average price dropped one-tenth of a cent to $2.873. It has decreased three consecutive days, dropping 1.5 cents, including a half-cent Thursday. The three-day streak of decreases follows a run of six increases in seven days totaling 6.6 cents.
The national average price is 1.1 cents more than one week ago and 3.9 cents higher than one month ago but 24.4 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $2.143 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.