L.A. County Average Gas Price Rises For 7th Straight Day

LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose today for the seventh consecutive day, increasing four-tenths of a cent to $3.799, according to the American Automobile Assn.

The average price has risen 12.7 cents over the past seven days, including four-tenths of a cent Sunday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one month ago, 10.5 cents higher than one year ago and has risen 40.8 cents since the start of the year.

The increases were initially sparked by rising oil prices, which came in reaction to an attack on oil production facilities in Saudi Arabia, according to Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.

A later factor in the increases was flaring at PBF Energy's Torrance refinery, typically a sign of production problems, which lead to a lower supply of gasoline and higher prices.

Oil prices dropped later last week ``as the industry digested Saudi assertions that the country could repair damaged facilities relatively quickly'' to avoid a reduction in supply, Spring said.

City News Service contributed to this report.