Average Gasoline Prices Continue to Rise

Average gasoline prices in 2015 in Riverside were $2.75 in 2016

Average gasoline prices in Riverside have risen 7.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $6.26/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 481 stations in Riverside. Prices in Riverside are 103.6 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand $1.94/g higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 18.0 cents in the last week and stands at $5.04 per gallon.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision last week to switch early to the state’s easier and cheaper winter blend of fuel has been credited for minor relief at the pump, according to the Los Angeles Times. But experts say that move alone does little to remedy a situation that keeps reaching crisis levels. The average price for a gallon of gasoline remains well above $6 in California, about 70% higher than the national average, according to the American Automobile Association.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Riverside was priced at $5.19/g yesterday while the most expensive was $6.79/g, a difference of $1.60/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $4.89/g while the highest was $7.99/g, a difference of $3.10/g.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 13.8 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.92/g today. The national average is up 22.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 67.0 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.

Historical gasoline prices in Riverside and the national average going back ten years:

• October 10, 2021: $4.32/g (U.S. Average: $3.25/g)
• October 10, 2020: $3.14/g (U.S. Average: $2.18/g)
• October 10, 2019: $4.15/g (U.S. Average: $2.64/g)
• October 10, 2018: $3.79/g (U.S. Average: $2.91/g)
• October 10, 2017: $3.00/g (U.S. Average: $2.46/g)
• October 10, 2016: $2.75/g (U.S. Average: $2.25/g)
• October 10, 2015: $2.94/g (U.S. Average: $2.32/g)
• October 10, 2014: $3.59/g (U.S. Average: $3.23/g)
• October 10, 2013: $3.78/g (U.S. Average: $3.34/g)
• October 10, 2012: $4.67/g (U.S. Average: $3.81/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:

• San Bernardino — $6.24/g, up 13.3 cents per gallon from last week’s $6.11/g.
• Orange County — $6.30/g, unchanged from last week’s $6.30/g.
• Los Angeles — $6.37/g, up 5.2 cents per gallon from last week’s $6.31/g.

“With OPEC+ deciding to cut oil production by two million barrels a day, we’ve seen oil prices surge 20%, which is the primary factor in the national average rising for the third straight week,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Some of the refinery snags that have caused prices to surge in the West and Great Lakes appear to be improving, with prices in those two regions likely to inch down, even with OPEC’s decision, as the drop in wholesale prices has offset the rise due to the production cut. But where gas prices didn’t jump because of refinery issues, they will rise a total of 10-30 cents due to oil’s rise, and some areas are certainly seeing the jump already. For now, I don’t expect much improvement in prices for most of the country, with California and the Great Lakes as the exception, with downdrafts likely in the days and weeks ahead.”