Auto Club: SoCal Gas Prices Continue Dropping Rapidly; Some Averages Drop Below $6

Southern California gas prices continue to drop at a brisk pace, with Riverside and San Bernardino average prices dipping below $6 a gallon and other areas soon expected to follow if this trend continues, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. Today's statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $6.08, which is 15 cents lower than last week and $1.47 higher than at this time last year. The national average is $4.27, which is six cents lower than last week and $1.21 higher than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $6.15 per gallon, which is 13 cents lower than last week and $1.50 higher than a year ago. In San Diego, the average price is $6.15, which is 13 cents less than last week and $1.43 higher than this time last year.

In Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, the average price is $6.15, which is 12 cents below last week and $1.56 higher than a year ago. In Riverside, the average price per gallon is $5.95, 17 cents lower than last week and $1.40 higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $6.18 average is 11 cents lower than last week and $1.60 higher than one year ago.

"Early sales of winter blend gasoline are continuing to help push down California gas prices," said Auto Club spokesperson Kandace Redd. "While the state still has the most expensive gas prices in the nation, many more local metropolitan areas could see their pump price averages drop below $6 a gallon in the next week or two if the current pace of price decline continues."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Oct. 22, averages are: