Auto Club: Gas Prices Continue Higher but at a Slower Rate
LOS ANGELES--Jan. 20, 2006--Gasoline prices have risen for the third straight week, but at a slower rate, indicating that pump prices may be reaching a temporary plateau, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. Prices this week rose between 2 and 5 cents per gallon, while last week they spiked 15-16 cents in most areas.The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.450, which is 4.6 cents higher than last week, 20 cents higher than last month and 47 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.506 -- 5 cents above last week's price, 21 cents above last month and 52 cents above last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $2.592, up 3.1 cents from last week, 10 cents higher than last month and 49 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.476, up 5.3 cents from last week, 20 cents above last month and 50 cents higher than last year.
"Motorists might seen prices stabilize over the next week or two, but that could only be a temporary pause," Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp said. "Upward pressure on gas prices will increase in February due to reduced production as refineries rush to finish the changeover from producing winter grade to summer grade fuel before the March 1 deadline."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., Jan. 20, 2006:
Area Regular Change from Record Price
last week
Los Angeles-Long Beach $2.450 +4.6 cents $2.999 (9/6/2005)
Orange County $2.408 +3.1 cents $2.970 (9/6/2005)
San Diego $2.506 +5.0 cents $3.060 (9/5/2005)
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-
Lompoc $2.592 +3.1 cents $3.111 (9/7/2005)
Riverside-San Bernardino $2.476 +5.3 cents $3.030 (9/9/2005)
Bakersfield $2.467 +2.2 cents $3.167 (9/9/2005)
Las Vegas $2.342 +2.3 cents $2.968 (9/8/2005)
