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Auto Club: Average Monthly Gas Hits Record High for February
The average price of regular gasoline in Southern California surged nearly 20 cents in a month to an all-time February high with more increases likely on the way, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge Report. An expanding economy combined with lower inventories and reduced production from California refineries in the middle of the routine changeover from winter to summer grade gasoline have propelled gasoline prices higher at a faster pace than in prior years.
The Southern California average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline is $1.939, up from $1.737 on Jan. 13, 2004. The previous highest February Fuel Gauge Report price was in 2003 at $1.730.
The lowest average price in Southern California is Porterville, where drivers can pump regular self-serve unleaded gasoline for an average $1.836, and the highest price is in Redlands, where regular goes for an average $2.079. San Francisco Bay-area motorists now pay an average of $1.90, up from $1.71 in January. Nationally, prices are up eight cents since the January AAA survey and now average $1.64 per gallon.
"A springtime gasoline price spike is becoming an annual institution in California," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. "Production drops as many refineries need to change over from winter to summer formulation gasoline. When inventories are already at low levels, this changeover can cause prices to jump up. In addition, OPEC recently announced a production cut, so some experts are saying that the price increases may last longer this year."
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below: County/City Unl Pre
Imperial County
El Centro 1.932 2.049
Inyo County
Bishop 1.926 2.094
Kern County
Bakersfield 1.862 2.029
Ridgecrest 1.899 2.067
Los Angeles County
Alhambra 1.939 1.999
Arcadia 1.915 1.975
Burbank 1.875 2.112
Culver City 1.977 2.089
Glendale 1.887 2.224
Glendora 1.884 2.079
Inglewood 1.938 2.094
Lancaster 1.924 2.119
Long Beach 1.918 2.067
Los Angeles 1.926 2.126
Manhattan Beach 2.004 2.207
Montebello 1.941 2.144
Santa Clarita 1.959 2.119
Santa Monica 1.959 2.289
Van Nuys 1.898 2.034
Whittier 1.910 2.199
Woodland Hills 1.944 2.139
Orange County
Anaheim 1.856 2.109
Fullerton 1.870 2.059
Huntington Beach 1.898 2.066
La Habra 1.865 2.059
Laguna Beach 2.019 2.179
Newport Beach 1.975 2.219
San Clemente 1.994 2.109
Tustin 1.930 2.084
Riverside County
Blythe 2.020 2.199
Hemet 1.905 2.082
Palm Springs 2.023 2.209
Riverside 1.913 2.096
San Bernardino County
Redlands 2.079 2.279
San Bernardino 1.966 2.113
Victorville 1.898 2.045
San Diego County
Chula Vista 1.969 2.226
Del Mar 1.999 2.099
Escondido 1.917 2.102
Oceanside 1.975 2.179
San Diego 1.959 2.171
San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo 1.978 2.229
Santa Barbara County
Lompoc 1.979 2.145
Santa Barbara 2.043 2.209
Santa Maria 1.986 2.099
Tulare County
Porterville 1.836 1.972
Visalia 1.863 1.999
Ventura County
Ventura 1.965 2.146
So. Calif. Avg. 1.939 2.120
The Auto Club's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data gathered from monitoring fuel transactions at 2,800 Southern California gas stations. Oil Price Information Service -- the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information, provides the data |
