Auto Club: Pump Prices Down 17 Percent From One Year Ago

While gas prices rose slightly from last week, the statewide average for California is down 17 percent compared to one year ago, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.77, which is two cents higher than a week ago. The average national price is $3.22, which is two cents lower than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.59 per gallon, which is two cents lower than last week, three cents higher than last month, and $1.43 lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.69, which is one cent lower than last week, two cents higher than last month, and $1.24 lower than last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.69, which is one cent lower than last week, one cent lower than last month, and $1.19 lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.48, which is one cent lower than last week, two cents higher than last month and $1.36 lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.62 average price is two cents lower than last week, the same as last month, and $1.02 lower than a year ago today.

"As fall road trip season approaches, travelers are benefiting from significantly lower gas prices compared to last year," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "Since late July, fuel costs have steadily declined due to a relatively calm Atlantic hurricane season and because many gas stations are transitioning to winter-blend gasoline, which is less expensive to produce. This combination offers relief to those hitting the road this autumn."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on September 19 averages are: