The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose Friday to its highest amount since Aug. 30, 2015, increasing seven-tenths of a cent to $3.481.
The average price has increased 18 consecutive days, rising 11.3 cents, including a half-cent on Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price is 4.4 cents more than one week ago, 11.8 cents higher than one month ago and 51.7 cents greater than one year ago. It has risen 38.6 cents since the start of the year.
The rising prices are the result of declining West Coast gasoline inventories and production, according to Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.
“However, those refineries are expected to be up and running at full capacity soon, which should increase supply,” Spring said.