Average LA County Gas Price Matches Second-Largest Increase Since July 2015

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose 13.3 cents Thursday for the second consecutive day, matching its second-largest increase since July 14, 2015.

The average price has risen 16 consecutive days, increasing 99.7 cents to $5.784, its 32nd record in 34 days, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 77 cents more than one week ago, $1.037 higher than one month ago and $1.947 greater than one year ago.

At Garo Gas in Pasadena, 960 E. Washington Blvd., usually one of the least expensive gas stations in Pasadena, regular was being sold for $5.51 on Wednesday and premium for $5.75.

Competitor Valero, at 1600 E. Washington Blvd., was holding the line Wednesday by selling regular for $5.27 and premium for $5.67, GasBuddy.com

“Americans have never seen gasoline prices this high, nor have we seen the pace of increases so fast and furious. That combination makes this situation all the more remarkable and intense, with crippling sanctions on Russia curbing their flow of oil, leading to the massive spike in the price of all fuels: gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and more,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, told Fox Business News.

The Automobile Club of Southern California is reminding drivers “to implement fuel efficiency tips into their daily routines,” Doug Shupe, the club’s corporate communications and programs manager, told City News Service, in order to save gas and lower their costs.

Those tips include: keeping vehicles well-maintained such as properly inflated tires, removing excess weight from vehicles that is not needed for trips; avoiding jackrabbit starts and not speeding; parking in the shade or using a window sunscreen to lessen heat build up in your vehicle; combining errands into fewer trips per day, and; shopping around for the cheapest gas by looking for less expensive gas stations that aren’t too far out of your way, Shupe said.