Automobile Club of Southern California
02/12/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/12/2026 12:36
Auto Club: SoCal Drivers Get Second Week Of Significant Gas Price Increases
The closure of a Northern California refinery, Southern California refinery maintenance and summer blend gasoline production have combined to push prices up by more than a penny a day in the last week locally, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. California's $4.54 average statewide price is 15 cents higher than last week and 20 cents lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $2.94, which is five cents higher than a week ago and 20 cents lower than on this date last year.
The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.57 per gallon, which is 11 cents higher than last week and 15 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.59, which is nine cents higher than last week and 14 cents lower than the price this time last year.
On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.46, which is ten cents higher than last week and 21 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.43, which is 13 cents higher than last week and 17 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.42 average price is nine cents higher than last week and 13 cents lower than a year ago today.
Two refineries in Southern California are currently undergoing planned maintenance, temporarily reducing gasoline production capacity. And while the closure of the Valero refinery in Benicia does not directly affect local gasoline supply, it does increase overall demand for alternative sources of California-blend gasoline. The only refineries that produce California's unique gasoline blend outside the state are in Washington state and other countries.
"Southern California gas prices have increased rapidly in the past two weeks, but not nearly as much as in Northern California, which is directly impacted by its refinery shutdown in Benicia," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "Also, despite the rapid increases, as of today Southern California drivers are still paying 15 to 20 cents less per gallon on average than they were on this date last year."
The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Feb. 12, averages are:
Automobile Club of Southern California published this content on February 12, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 12, 2026 at 18:36 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]