Average area gas prices rise for 3rd straight day

LOS ANGELES >> The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Sunday for the third consecutive day after dropping six of the previous seven days, increasing seventenths of a cent to $4.859.

The average price has risen 3.1 cents over the past three days, including seven-tenths of a cent Saturday and 1.7 cents Friday, after dropping 2.4 cents over the previous seven days, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

The average price is 1.8 cents more than one week ago but 7.9 cents less than one month ago and $1.238 lower than one year ago. It has dropped $1.635 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5.

The Orange County average price also rose for the third consecutive day after dropping six of the previous seven days, increasing two-tenths of a cent to $4.825. It has risen 3.6 cents over the past three days, including eighttenths of a cent Saturday and 2.6 cents Friday, after dropping 2.1 cents over the previous seven days.

The Orange County average price is 3.1 cents more than one week ago but 7.5 cents less than one month ago and $1.251 lower than one year ago. It has dropped $1.634 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5.

“It's typical to see gas prices move higher as we approach big holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day,” Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager, told City News Service.

“After three years of the pandemic, the Auto Club anticipates 2.8 million will take road trips Thursday to Monday, but not everyone travels only during that five-day period. Some people hit the roads early and make a longer vacation out of the Memorial Day holiday and that increased demand for gasoline puts upward pressure on prices.”

The national average price dropped one-tenth of a cent for the second consecutive day to $3.539 after three consecutive increases totaling 1 cent. It is a halfcent more than one week ago but 14.3 cents less than one month ago and $1.054 lower than one year ago.

The national average price has dropped $1.477 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14.