Auto Club: Local Gas Prices Resume Climbing After Brief Pause

Southern California gas prices began climbing again this week after a brief week-long pause in most areas, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.74, which is ten cents higher than a week ago. The average national price is $3.32, which is five cents higher than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.85 per gallon, which is five cents more than last week, 27 cents higher than last month, and one cent higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.86, which is five cents more than last week, 27 cents higher than last month, and one cent higher than this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.81, which is four cents higher than last week, 25 cents higher than last month, and four cents more than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.72, which is four cents higher than last week, 32 cents higher than last month and two cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.62 average price is four cents more than last week, six cents more than last month, and 15 cents lower than a year ago today.

"According to Oil Price Information Service, the latest Energy Information Administration data is showing increased refinery production on the West Coast while gasoline inventories declined," said Auto Club Spokesperson Doug Shupe. "Gas prices are likely to increase further in the next few months as consumer fuel demand grows in the spring and summer months."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Feb. 29, averages are: