Auto Club: SoCal Gas Prices At Or Near Record Levels, But Relief Could Come Soon

Santa Barbara set a new all-time record average gas price today and other Southern California cities are within pennies of their record levels, but prices could reverse course soon, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. Today's statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $6.40, which is 17 cents higher than last week, $1.76 higher than at this time last year, and four cents shy of the all-time record of $6.44 set on June 15, 2022. The national average is $4.41, which is seven cents lower than last week and $1.25 higher than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $6.43 per gallon, which is 15 cents higher than last week, $1.71 higher than a year ago and six cents lower than its record price. In San Diego, the average price is $6.42, which is 14 cents more than last week, $1.66 higher than this time last year and one cent below its record price.

In Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, the average price is $6.39, which is a new record and 18 cents higher than last week and $1.76 higher than a year ago. In Riverside, the average price per gallon is $6.17, 15 cents higher than last week and $1.57 higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $6.34 average is 17 cents higher than last week, $1.75 higher than one year ago and four cents lower than its record price.

"Oil Price Information Service reports that California wholesale gasoline prices dropped by 20 cents yesterday after Gov. Gavin Newsom's announcement late Monday that the cheaper winter-blend gasoline will be allowed to be sold immediately in California gas stations," said Auto Club spokesperson Kandace Redd. "We expect pump prices to begin falling soon."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Oct. 1, averages are: