Despite Switch To Winter Blend, SoCal Gas Prices Keep Rising
November 04, 2021 Weekly Fuel Prices Report, Gas Prices
Photo by Ian Burt https://www.flickr.com/photos/oddsock/ creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Gas stations in Southern California were allowed to start selling the cheaper "winter blend" of gasoline on Monday, but so far local gas prices are continuing their upward momentum, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.62, which is four cents higher than last week. The average national price is $3.42, which is two cents higher than a week ago.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.59 per gallon, which is two cents higher than last week, 17 cents higher than last month, and $1.43 higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.54, which is up two cents from last week, 18 cents higher than last month, and $1.39 higher than last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.53, which is two cents higher than last week, 16 cents higher than last month, and $1.31 higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.51, which is three cents higher than last week, 16 cents higher than last month, and $1.33 higher than last year. In Bakersfield, the $4.54 average price is five cents higher than last week, 18 cents higher than last month, and $1.42 higher than a year ago today.
"Supply issues in Northern California are continuing to create new daily record prices in many of those areas, while in Southern California, prices continue to slowly crawl closer to all-time record levels," said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. "High oil prices continue to be a major factor in driving up prices at the pump."
California air quality regulations require gas stations to sell a "summer blend" of gasoline that burns more cleanly in hotter temperatures, generally between April 1 and Oct. 31 in most Southern California areas. The "winter blend" of gasoline can be sold from November through March and is generally much cheaper to produce, although this year one of its components is significantly more expensive than in prior years.
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov. 4, averages are: