The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose for the 23rd time in 24 days Saturday, increasing 1.4 cents to $4.505, its highest amount since Dec. 3.
The average price has risen 36.4 cents over the past 24 days, including seven-tenths of a cent Friday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price is 4.8 cents more than one week ago and 38.2 cents more than one month ago, but 15.9 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped $1.868 since rising to a record $6.373 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“The gas price increases we have been seeing are typical for this time of year in Southern California as refineries undergo planned and unplanned maintenance while gasoline demand starts increasing, leading to upward price pressure,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, said in a statement released Thursday.
The national average price increased for the fourth consecutive day, inching up one-tenth of a cent to $2.935. It is a half-cent more than one week ago, 10.2 cents less than one year ago, and 22.7 cents less than one year ago. The national average price has dropped $2.081 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.