For residents of Riverside County, the cost of filling up the tank continues its unrelenting march upward, with average gasoline prices rising for the 18th consecutive day. On Saturday, the average price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline increased by 1.7 cents, pushing it to $5.758—a level not seen since June 8.
This prolonged climb means that over the past 18 days alone, the average price has jumped by 23.8 cents. This includes a 2.3 cent increase observed just on Friday, according to figures compiled by the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. Compared to last week, drivers are now paying 14.6 cents more, and an additional 16.8 cents compared to a month ago. Looking back a full year, the difference is even starker, with current prices $1.279 higher than they were a year ago.
The accelerating increases at the gas pump have been notably influenced by global events. Prices in Riverside County have increased by $1.207 since February 28, the date of the joint U.S./Israel attack on Iran, an event that sent oil prices higher and drastically accelerated this trend.
While Riverside County grapples with these sustained hikes, the national average price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline saw a slight dip. After five consecutive increases, the national average dropped by two-tenths of a cent to $4.145. However, this small reduction doesn't erase the broader national trend; the average price across the country is still 6.4 cents more than one week ago, 6.5 cents more than one month ago, and 94.1 cents more than one year ago. Like Southern California, the national average has also increased significantly, by $1.163, since the attack on Iran.
This pricing landscape has led to some unusual records. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which tracks real-time gas price information, pointed out that the national average price is currently at its highest amount this late in the calendar year. The AAA added context on Thursday, noting that the national average has never been above $4 per gallon on Labor Day, with the existing record of $3.82 having been set on September 3, 2012.
Typically, gasoline demand decreases around this time of year, which often leads to a drop in prices. However, the AAA stated that “this year is different due to the high cost of crude oil,” suggesting that relief at the pump may not be arriving as usual for Southern California drivers this fall.
