A local gas pump. (File photo by Alexander Nguyen/Times of San Diego)
If you’re still filling up a gas tank instead of driving an electric car, prices are finally slipping — though nowhere near the bargains drivers are seeing in other parts of the country.
San Diego County’s average price for a gallon of regular dropped again on Friday, marking the 31st decline in 32 days, landing at $4.59 per gallon, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. Prices have fallen about 36 cents over the past month, including a tiny dip on Thursday. The long slide paused briefly earlier in the week before continuing, following nearly a month of steady drops.
Right now, the average is 9 cents cheaper than last week and 33 cents lower than a month ago, but still more than 11 cents higher than this time last year. While the current number looks better than the record $6.44 set on Oct. 5, 2022, California is still among the priciest states for drivers.
AAA spokesperson Doug Shupe said local prices are hovering “within five to 15 cents of their lowest levels of the year,” which should help the many Southern Californians hitting the road for holiday trips. He added that wholesale prices in Los Angeles continue to ease, a sign that local pumps could keep inching down.
Nationally, the story is a lot different. The average price dipped to $2.93 per gallon, continuing a steady slide that has pushed prices down from last week, last month, and last year — and more than $2 below the all-time high set June 14, 2022.
While California continues to sit near the top of the price charts, many other states are seeing real bargains. Current data from AAA and GasBuddy show at least 30 states now averaging under $2.50 per gallon, and six states have averages below $2.00. In some places, stations are posting numbers drivers here haven’t seen in years.
–City News contributed to this report
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