The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose Friday for the third consecutive day following four consecutive decreases totaling 1.7 cents, increasing four-tenths of a cent to $5.539.
The average price has risen 1.9 cents over the past three days, including eight-tenths of a cent Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is two-tenths of a cent more than one week ago, 10.4 cents higher than one month ago and $1.213 greater than one year ago.
The average price has increased 98.8 cents since the start of the joint U.S./Israel attack on Iran on Feb. 28, which sent oil prices higher and drastically accelerated increases at the gas pump.
“Crude oil prices are once again approaching the $90 per barrel range amid continued uncertainty along the Strait of Hormuz and the conflict in the Middle East,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, said in a statement released Thursday.
“Gas prices remain volatile, so motorists should continue looking for ways to stretch their fuel dollars. Keeping tires properly inflated, avoiding excessive idling and combining errands are simple steps that can help reduce fuel consumption and save money at the pump.”
The national average price rose for the fourth consecutive day, increasing a half-cent to $4.109. It has increased 4.6 cents over the past four days, including 1.8 cents Thursday. The increases follow a three-day streak of decreases totaling 1.4 cents.
The national average price is 3.2 cents more than one week ago, 9 cents higher than one month ago and 97.2 cents greater than one year ago. It has increased $1.127 since the attack on Iran.
The national average price is at its highest amount this late in the calendar year, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations.