Auto Club: Gas Prices Stop Dropping In Some Areas

Southern California gas prices reversed course after more than two months in many areas and ticked upward in recent days, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. California's $4.20 average statewide price is one cent lower than last week and 24 cents lower than a year ago today. The average national price is $2.85, which is one cent higher than a week ago and 27 cents lower than on this date last year.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.34 per gallon, which is one cent lower than last week and 15 cents lower than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.39, which is the same as last week and 14 cents lower than the price this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.30, which is one cent less than last week and 17 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.12, which is the same as last week and 24 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.22 average price is three cents lower than last week and eight cents lower than a year ago today.

"Oil Price Information Service reports that Los Angeles wholesale gasoline prices are moving up as part of the annual cycle of switching from producing winter-blend fuel to the more expensive summer-blend gasoline," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "This switch is required by California air quality regulations. Even though gas stations don't have to start selling summer blend gasoline until April 1, refineries must adjust ahead of time to begin producing the summer blend."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Jan. 22, averages are: