Community Corner

Gas Prices Steady After 13-Day Rise

After 13 days of increasing gas prices, the cost of a gallon of gasoline finally fell by two-tenths of a cent to $4.303.

BY JEFFREY SPRING

City News Service

The streak of increases to the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County ended today at 13 days with a decrease of two-tenths of a cent to $4.303.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The average price increased 22.8 cents during the streak, including seven-tenths of a cent on Wednesday, to its highest amount since March 3, 2013, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

Despite today's small decrease, the average price is 15.2 cents more than one week ago, 25.9 cents higher than one month ago and 30.3 cents above what it was one year ago.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Orange County average price rose for the 16th consecutive day, increasing 1.3 cents to $4.289, its highest amount since March 4, 2013.

An increase of one-tenth of a cent extended the streak of rising prices in Orange County to 18 days. The average price of $4.298 is the highest since March 2, 2013 and 16.4 cents more than one week ago, 26.6 cents higher than one month ago and 33.6 cents above what it was one year ago.

The Orange County average price has increased 24.8 cents over the previous 18 days, including eight-tenths of a cent on Wednesday.

The increasing prices are the result of reduced supply caused by two refineries being at least partly offline for longer than expected for maintenance, a 35 percent increase in gasoline exports, and an increase in ethanol costs due to difficulties in shipping it from outside California, according to Marie Montgomery of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Ethanol is used as an additive in California's summertime blend of gasoline.


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