Gas prices in Southern California and throughout the country rocketed upward in the last week, with many local cities now posting averages near $6 a gallon, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. Today's statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $5.89, which is 11 cents higher than last week and $1.27 higher than at this time last year. The national average is $4.27, which is 13 cents higher than last week and $1.08 higher than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $5.94 per gallon, which is 11 cents higher than last week and $1.26 higher than a year ago. In San Diego, the average price is $5.99, which is 10 cents more than last week and $1.26 higher than this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $5.91, which is 13 cents higher than last week and $1.29 higher than a year ago. In Riverside, the average price per gallon is $5.82, 11 cents higher than last week and $1.29 higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $5.83 average is eight cents higher than last week and $1.20 higher than one year ago.

"Oil prices are now near or over $100 a barrel due to continued supply concerns related to the Middle East conflict, and that has pushed up pump prices locally and nationally," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "San Diego's average regular unleaded gasoline price could top $6 a gallon tomorrow, and other local cities could also reach $6 a gallon or beyond if the upward price trend does not reverse soon."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Sept. 10, averages are: