Rising RivCo Gas Prices Headed For Slowdown: Auto Club

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose three-tenths of a cent Tuesday to $4.165, one day after remaining unchanged.

The average price has risen 37 of the past 43 days, increasing 19.9 cents to its highest amount since Oct. 11, 2019, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 2 cents higher than one week ago, 10.9 cents more than one month ago and $1.255 greater than a year ago.

The average price has risen 98.9 cents since the start of the year, mainly because of a run of 82 increases in 84 days totaling 70.4 cents that ended March 30.

The large price increase from one year ago is the result of a significant decrease during the early stage of the coronavirus pandemic, when driving and demand dropped substantially because of stay-at-home orders intended to reduce the spread of the virus.

"Gas price increases appear to be slowing down as refinery production has picked up," said Marie Montgomery, a public relations specialist with the Automobile Club of Southern California. "Southern California may even see prices start to decrease if this trend continues."