Friday, March 22, 2024

Average LA County Gas Price Tops $5 a Gallon for First Time Since Nov. 26

By STEVEN HERBERT, City News Service

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County topped $5 for the first time since Nov. 26 Friday, increasing 1.8 cents to $5.009, rising for the seventh time in eight days.

The average price has risen 7.9 cents over the past eight days, including 1.6 cents Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose three consecutive days, dropped one-tenth of a cent Monday and resumed increasing Tuesday.

The average price is 6.8 cents more than week ago, 21.2 cents higher than one month ago and 14.8 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.485 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are likely to continue trending upward this spring as in prior years,” said Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s corporate communications manager.

The national average price rose for the 10th consecutive day, increasing a half-cent to $3.532. It has risen 13.8 cents over the past 10 days, including 1.2 cents Thursday.

The national average price is 9.4 cents more than one week ago, 26.2 cents higher than one month ago and 9.6 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.484 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.