Auto Club: Gas Prices Stay Steady Or Move Up Slightly After Refinery Fire

The large fire last week at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo has had no effect on gas prices so far, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.66, which is two cents higher than last week and one cent lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $3.11, which is four cents lower than a week ago and nine cents lower than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.72 per gallon, which is unchanged for the last two weeks and 14 cents more than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.78, which is two cents higher than last week and 12 cents higher than the price this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.65, which is two cents higher than last week and one cent lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.61, which is one cent higher than last week and 18 cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.59 average price is the same as last week and the same as a year ago today.

"According to Oil Price Information Service and the California Energy Commission, gasoline inventories are higher than they were at this time a year ago, and supply has not yet been impacted by the El Segundo refinery fire," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "Also according to OPIS, Chevron filed a report with the state indicating the fire mainly damaged a unit that processes jet fuel. A Chevron spokesperson also stated they would be making 'operational adjustments' to resume refinery production to meet fuel demand."

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