The cost of a gallon of regular self-serve gas in Los Angeles County increased for the 13th day in a row on Wednesday, increasing nine-tenths of a cent to $4.946, which is the highest it has been since April 20.
According to data from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, the average price has gone up by 11.8 cents in the last 13 days. On Tuesday, the price went up by 0.7 of a cent. After six decreases in seven days adding 2.4 cents, the price went up for three days in a row.
The average price is 7.6 cents more than it was a week ago and 4.2 cents more than it was a month ago. However, it is $1.226 less than it was a year ago. Since Oct. 5, when it hit a new high of $6.494, it has gone down $1.548.
The average price in Orange County went up for the 12th time in 13 days, increasing by nine-tenths of a cent to $4.915, which is the highest it has been since April 19. In the past 13 days, it has gone up by 12.6 cents, including 0.3 cents on Tuesday.
The average price in Orange County increased for three days in a row, including 2.6 cents on May 19, decreased by a tenth of a cent on May 22, and then began increasing again on May 23.
It is 8.1 cents higher than it was a week ago and 5.6 cents higher than it was a month ago, but it is $1.235 lower than it was a year ago. It has dropped $1.544 since Oct. 5, when it reached a record high of $6.459.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum research at GasBuddy, which gives real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations, says refinery problems are likely to keep prices going up.
The average price across the country fell three-tenths of a cent for the second day in a row, to $3.576, after going up 3.9 cents in the six days before. It is 1.5 cents more than it was a week ago, but it is 3.5 cents less than it was a month ago, and it is $1.046 less than it was a year ago.
Since June 14, when the national average price hit a record high of $5.016, it has gone down by $1.44.
“Refinery problems and a low supply of gasoline have caused gasoline prices to rise over the past week,” De Haan said. “However, this may not be a long-term trend.”
“With the formal start of summer driving season, the national average is likely to stay between $3.35 and $3.85 per gallon for most of the summer. However, it could go higher if there are unexpected refinery outages, a big hurricane, or a big change in the economy.
