Southland Gasoline Prices Decrease for 17th Consecutive Day

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County fell today for the 17th consecutive day, dropping 1.7 cents to $4.256, one day after decreasing 1.2 cents.

The average price has dropped 15.5 cents over the past 17 days and is 5.5 cents less than one week ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

However, the average price is 7 cents more than one month ago and 21.1 cents higher than one year ago because of a 17.9-cent increase over a seven-day span immediately preceding the decreases caused by low inventories stemming from the closures of refineries in Southern California and Northern California for maintenance.

The Orange County average price also decreased today for the 17th consecutive day, falling 1.9 cents to $4.209, 7.1 cents less than one week ago, but 5.1 cents more than one week ago and 19.6 cents higher than one year ago.

The Orange County average price has decreased 18 cents over the past 17 days, including 1.5 cents on Friday, but rose 18.4 cents during a seven-day streak of increases immediately preceding the streak of declining prices.

"Prices continue to fall from the spike that occurred (in May), indicating that supply issues in California are being addressed or are at least not as bad as feared," said Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.