The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose for the 26th consecutive day Sunday, increasing 1.5 cents to $5.919, its highest amount since May 30.
The average price has risen 39.9 cents over the past 26 days, including 5.3 cents Saturday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 14.7 cents more than one week ago, 38.2 cents more than one month ago and $1.361 more than one year ago.
The average price has increased $1.368 since the start of the joint U.S./Israel war on Iran on Feb. 28, which sent oil prices higher and drastically accelerated increases at the gas pump.
“Oil prices are now near or over $100 a barrel due to continued supply concerns related to the Middle East conflict, and that has pushed up pump prices locally and nationally,” Doug Shupe, the media and public relations manager for the Automobile Club of Southern California, said in a statement released Thursday.
The national average price rose for the 13th time in 14 days, increasing three-tenths of a cent to $4.313. The national average price is 16.6 cents more than one week ago, 24.2 cents more than one month ago and $1.134 more than one year ago. It has increased $1.331 since the attack on Iran.
“The national average is increasing during a season when gas prices typically go down due to lower gasoline demand,” according to the AAA, formerly the American Automobile Association.
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.