Encinitas Area Gas Prices At Highest Amount Since March 23

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County increased two-tenths of a cent Tuesday to $3.235, its highest amount since March 23.

It is 1.4 cents more than one week ago and 8.3 cents more than one month ago, but 35.3 cents less than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price was unchanged on Monday, but has increased 13 times in the last 15 days.

"The pandemic and state regulations have fundamentally changed the landscape of the gasoline market in 2020, according to Oil Price Information Service and other oil industry analysts," said Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.

"The pandemic stay-at-home orders drove down demand. But announcements regarding the future of gasoline-powered vehicles in the state and anticipation of more stringent environmental regulations on refineries have caused one refinery to close indefinitely and others to announce they will close in the future or transition to producing low-carbon fuels," Spring added. "That means an even tighter gasoline market with more potential for price spikes from refinery disruptions."

— City News Service