Refinery issues caused the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County to record its largest daily increase since March 11, 2016, rising 4.7 cents to $3.485, its highest amount since Dec. 8.
The average price has increased 16 of the past 17 days, rising 13.5 cents, including 2.8 cents on both Wednesday and Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price is 11.5 cents more than one week ago and 13.4 cents higher than one month ago but 4.2 cents less than one year ago.
The Orange County average price also recorded its largest daily increase since March 11, 2016, rising 5.5 cents to $3.444, its highest amount since Dec. 6. It is 12.5 cents more than one week ago and 13.1 cents higher than one month ago but 4.7 cents less than one year ago.
"A fire (last) Friday night shut down part of the Phillips 66 Carson refinery and some planned maintenance at the Torrance refinery also put upward pressure on prices," said Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.
"Also, (Thursday) morning the Chevron El Segundo refinery reported unplanned flaring due to a breakdown. While the summer blend of gasoline is currently in Southern California gas pumps and that cost already has been passed along to drivers, these issues along with higher oil prices are likely to push pump prices up even further."
