Southern California Gas Prices Spike Amid Refinery Maintenance

Gasoline prices in Southern California counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego, have recently experienced their largest increases since September 28, 2023, largely attributed to planned and unplanned refinery maintenance and stronger futures expectations for gas prices. Los Angeles County's average price rose by 3.9 cents to $4.747 per gallon, while Orange County's average increased by 3.8 cents to $4.71, and San Diego County saw a 7.6 cents rise to $4.78. These increases follow a period of declining prices but still represent a drop of over $1.65 from record highs seen in October 2022. Nationally, the average price of regular gasoline remains lower than a year ago and continues a gradual downward trend, standing at around $3.04 per gallon. Experts note that wholesale prices have increased by double digits this week, which is driving retail price hikes. Despite regional price volatility, overall national gasoline prices have decreased significantly from the peaks recorded in mid-2022.