Los Angeles

Gas Price Surge: Fourth Consecutive Day SoCal Sees Increase

The Los Angeles County average price rose 12.6 cents to $4.053, the highest in the state, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The fourth consecutive sharp daily increase pushed the average prices of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles and Orange counties above the $4 mark for the first time since May today.

A drastic change in price was not what Mike Maimone expected to see when he returned to Los Angeles from his trip to New York.

"It's ridiculous, I wasn't aware of it till I came back," he said. "It's a shock."

The Los Angeles County average price rose 12.6 cents to $4.053, the highest in the state, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The Orange County average price rose 14 cents to $4.019, the third highest in the state behind Los Angeles and San Diego counties. The increase was the largest in a single day since Feb. 27.

The Los Angeles County average price has risen by at least 11.1 cents for four consecutive days and is 50.1 cents more than one week ago and 37.8 cents higher than a month ago but 8.1 cents less than one year ago. It had dropped 48 of the previous 52 days through Thursday.

The Orange County average price has risen by at least 12 cents for four consecutive days and is 52.3 cents more than one week ago and 41.8 cents higher than a month ago but 9.7 cents less than one year ago. It had dropped 50 of the previous 54 days through Thursday.

The sharp increases are the result of a lack of both gasoline produced in California and imported fuel to satisfy demand, according to Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.com, which bills itself as the leading provider of retail fuel pricing information and data.

Some residents found the increase in prices so extreme they needed to find other means of transportation.

Ed Vasquez took matters into his own hands and started riding his bike to work.

"It cost me 130 bucks to fill up my car the other day-- my truck rather," he said. "I just can't keep to afford, keep putting gas in it like that--so I'm on the bicycle and it's free."

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The national average for a gallon of regular fuel is $2.77, Los Angeles' average is almost a dollar more at $3.72.

Experts warned the increase would continue for at least the next few weeks.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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