Auto Club: Gas Prices Shoot Up Before Labor Day Holiday

For only the second time this year, gas prices in most Southern California areas jumped by double digits over the past week, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.59, which is 10 cents higher than last week and three cents lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $3.21, which is eight cents higher than a week ago and 15 cents lower than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.61 per gallon, which is 13 cents higher than last week and four cents more than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.67, which is 12 cents higher than last week and the same as the price this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.58, which is 15 cents higher than last week and 10 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.46, which is 14 cents more than last week and one cent higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.52 average price is seven cents higher than last week and seven cents lower than a year ago today.

"Most of the recent price increases at the pump happened last weekend after a spike in Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices due to some unplanned refinery maintenance, according to Oil Price Information Service," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "Also, for the first time this year in some Southern California areas, pump prices are higher than they were on this date in 2024."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Aug. 28, averages are: