The price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County has continued its steady ascent, rising Friday for the 31st consecutive day. The average price increased 3 cents to $6.165, marking its highest point since May 26.
Over the past 31 days, the average price in Los Angeles County has jumped 52.3 cents, according to figures compiled by AAA and Oil Price Information Service. This includes a 4.6-cent increase reported on Thursday. Looking back, the current average is 19.2 cents higher than it was one week ago, 52.3 cents more than one month ago, and a substantial $1.435 greater than one year ago.
Orange County drivers are facing a similar trend, with average gas prices also rising for the 31st straight day. On Friday, the Orange County average increased 2.7 cents to $6.142, a level not seen since May 22. In the last 31 days, Orange County prices have climbed 56.7 cents, with a 4.6-cent rise noted on Thursday. Comparatively, the Orange County average is 18.8 cents more than a week ago, 56.7 cents higher than a month ago, and $1.431 greater than one year ago.
Both Los Angeles and Orange counties have seen significant increases in prices since late February, linked to global events. The average price in Los Angeles County has risen $1.471 since February 28, which is when the source notes the start of the joint U.S./Israel war on Iran. Orange County has experienced an increase of $1.506 over the same period, following the conflict’s commencement.
Kandace Redd, a senior public affairs specialist for the Automobile Club of Southern California, addressed the ongoing situation in a statement released Thursday. “Middle East oil supply concerns continue to impact pump prices nationwide and particularly in states like California that import significant amounts of oil from the Middle East,” Redd stated. She also added that while oil prices had seen some reduction earlier in the week, they would “need to drop significantly more to affect pump prices locally.”
Nationally, the average price of gasoline also continues its upward trajectory, increasing for the 18th time in 19 days. The national average rose 3 cents Friday to $4.468, having climbed 39.1 cents over the past 19 days, including a 7.1-cent increase Thursday. After five consecutive days of rises, a brief two-tenths of a cent dip on September 5, the national average resumed its climb on September 6. This puts the national average 17.3 cents higher than one week ago, 40.3 cents higher than one month ago, and $1.265 greater than one year ago.
The national average has increased $1.486 since the attack on Iran. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which tracks real-time gas price information, noted that the national average price is currently at its highest amount for this late in the calendar year.
