Southern California Gas Prices Up Nine Cents in One Month
LOS ANGELES--April 17, 2001--Southern California average gas prices have climbed nine cents for a second consecutive month, bringing the total increase to 18 cents since mid-February, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's monthly Fuel Gauge report.The Southern California average price for regular unleaded fuel is $1.78, a nine-cent increase from a $1.69 average price on March 13. This compares with $1.75 per gallon in April 2000. The lowest average price in Southern California and the state continues to be in La Habra, where the price increased to $1.60 a gallon.
Northern California's prices, typically higher, climbed an average of 13 cents per gallon in one month. The average is $2.02 in San Francisco. Other cities that have surpassed $2 per gallon for regular include El Centro at $2, Bishop at $2.08 and Eureka, the highest in the state, at $2.13. Las Vegas is up five cents to $1.73 per gallon.
Nationally, the average for regular unleaded shot up 15.5 cents to $1.59.
While crude oil prices seemed to have stabilized around $28 per barrel, the increasing gasoline prices reflect an expected increase in demand for summer and an increase in wholesale prices nationwide due to reduced inventories. Inventories were reduced as refineries in California and other states have changed from a less expensive winter grade to a more costly to produce summer grade fuel.
In addition, refineries in other states are preparing to re-introduce a variety of cleaner-burning reformulated gasoline on June 1 in many major markets. These are the same factors that contributed to last year's record high fuel prices and they are expected to create similar gasoline price anomalies this summer.
In Southern California, the averages for regular and premium grades of gasoline are listed below:
Regular Premium
Imperial County
El Centro 2.004 2.149
Inyo County
Bishop 2.089 2.197
Kern County
Bakersfield 1.808 1.973
Ridgecrest 1.899 1.964
Los Angeles County
Alhambra 1.674 1.814
Arcadia 1.758 1.902
Burbank 1.719 1.934
Culver City 1.763 1.806
Glendale 1.713 1.911
Glendora 1.712 1.847
Inglewood 1.742 1.869
Lancaster 1.751 1.909
Long Beach 1.703 1.877
Los Angeles 1.728 1.902
Manhattan Beach 1.733 1.959
Montebello 1.707 1.899
Santa Clarita 1.751 1.852
Santa Monica 1.766 1.899
Van Nuys 1.692 1.843
Whittier 1.723 1.913
Woodland Hills 1.754 1.882
Orange County
Anaheim 1.673 1.811
Fullerton 1.702 1.893
Huntington Beach 1.698 1.882
La Habra 1.601 1.789
Laguna Beach 1.862 2.089
Newport Beach 1.791 2.079
San Clemente 1.857 2.019
Tustin 1.739 1.839
Riverside County
Blythe 1.956 2.039
Hemet 1.754 1.862
Palm Springs 1.774 1.899
Riverside 1.720 1.827
San Bernardino County
Redlands 1.771 1.859
San Bernardino 1.738 1.932
Victorville 1.734 1.939
San Diego County
Chula Vista 1.881 2.069
Del Mar 1.846 1.999
Escondido 1.835 1.960
Oceanside 1.849 1.969
San Diego 1.847 1.983
San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo 1.778 1.928
Santa Barbara County
Lompoc 1.889 2.014
Santa Barbara 1.952 1.959
Santa Maria 1.785 1.879
Tulare County
Porterville 1.901 2.114
Visalia 1.757 1.912
Ventura County
Ventura 1.834 2.024
So. Calif. Avg. 1.786 1.935
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.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy.
Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
