Auto Club: California Gas Prices Rise In Most Areas While Other States See More Hefty Increases

Southern California gas prices rose by about a nickel in most areas over the past week while some other U.S. states saw double-digit increases as attacks ramped up in the Middle East, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. Today's statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $5.40, which is two cents more than last week and 89 cents higher than at this time last year. The national average is $3.94, which is ten cents higher than last week and 78 cents higher than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.45 per gallon, which is five cents higher than last week and 94 cents higher than a year ago. In San Diego, the average price is $5.47, which is two cents more than last week and 89 cents higher than this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.54, which is two cents higher than last week and $1.05 higher than a year ago. In Riverside, the average price per gallon is $5.28, six cents higher than last week and 93 cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.53 average is three cents lower than last week and $1.04 higher than one year ago.

"Oil prices have risen as of today to near $80 a barrel but are still well below the $120-per-barrel prices at the height of the conflict," said Auto Club spokesperson Kandace Redd. "As long as traffic is significantly disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz, we can expect oil prices to remain higher or increase, which will push up prices at the pump."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on July 16, averages are: