The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped for the 17th consecutive day Monday, falling 1 cent to $6.044.
The average price has dropped 28.5 cents over the past 17 days, including 1.3 cents Sunday, 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 totaling 80.9 cents that brought the average price within 4.4 cents of its record, $6.373 set Oct. 5, 2022.
The average price is 15.4 cents less than one week ago and 3.1 cents less than one month ago, but $1.473 more than one year ago. It has increased $1.493 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 dropping prices are the result of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement Sept. 28 that cheaper winter-blend gasoline would be allowed to be sold immediately instead of the customary Nov. 1 date.
The national average price dropped three-tenths of a cent to $4.295. It is 6 cents less than one week ago and 18 cents less than one month ago, but $1.259 more than one year ago. It has increased $1.313 since the attack on Iran.