The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped for the ninth consecutive day Sunday, falling 1.2 cents to $6.201.
The average price has dropped 12.8 cents over the past nine days, including 2.3 cents Saturday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The streak began one day after the end of a 44-day streak of increases that brought the Riverside County average price within 4.4 cents of its all-time record.
The average price is 11.2 cents less than one week ago, but 35 cents more than one month ago and $1.59 more than one year ago. It has increased $1.65 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.
The record Riverside County average price is $6.373 set Oct. 5, 2022.
The dropping prices are the result of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that cheaper winter-blend gasoline would be allowed to be sold immediately instead of the customary Nov. 1 date.
The national average price dropped eight-tenths of a cent to $4.358, its 14th decrease in the last 16 days. It is 1.1 cents less than one week ago, but 6.3 cents more than one month ago and $1.269 more than one year ago. It has increased $1.376 since the attack on Iran.
The national average price remains the highest it’s ever been for this time of year.