Southern California gas prices have dropped by double digits over the past week in many areas, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.41, which is ten cents lower than last week and six cents higher than a year ago today. The average national price is $2.94, which is five cents lower than a week, eight cents lower than on this date last year, and the lowest national average price for gas since 2021.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.57 per gallon, which is nine cents lower than last week and 18 cents more than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.60, which is nine cents lower than last week and 13 cents higher than the price this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.51, which is nine cents less than last week and ten cents higher than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.35, which is 13 cents lower than last week and eight cents higher than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.43 average price is six cents lower than last week and 11 cents higher than a year ago today.

"Southern California metro area average gas prices are now within five to 15 cents of their lowest levels of the year, which is great news for the record number of local residents who are planning holiday getaways this month," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "Wholesale Los Angeles gasoline prices are continuing to drop, which should continue the downward trend at the pump."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Dec. 11, averages are: