Gas Prices 30 Cents Higher Than Year Ago

Riverside gas prices have fallen 10.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.63/g today, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 481 stations. Gas prices in Riverside are 36.5 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and stand 29.5 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Riverside is priced at $3.24/g today while the most expensive is $4.49/g, a difference of $1.25/g. The lowest price in the state today is $2.59/g while the highest is $4.99/g, a difference of $2.40/g. The cheapest price in the entire country today stands at $1.78/g while the most expensive is $4.99/g, a difference of $3.21/g.

The national average price of gasoline has fallen 3.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.57/g today. The national average is down 6.1 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 15.9 cents per gallon higher than a year ago.

Historical gas prices in Riverside and the national average going back a decade:

• December 9, 2018: $3.33/g (U.S. Average: $2.41/g)
• December 9, 2017: $3.09/g (U.S. Average: $2.46/g)
• December 9, 2016: $2.64/g (U.S. Average: $2.20/g)
• December 9, 2015: $2.69/g (U.S. Average: $2.01/g)
• December 9, 2014: $2.94/g (U.S. Average: $2.64/g)
• December 9, 2013: $3.57/g (U.S. Average: $3.25/g)
• December 9, 2012: $3.65/g (U.S. Average: $3.34/g)
• December 9, 2011: $3.59/g (U.S. Average: $3.29/g)
• December 9, 2010: $3.21/g (U.S. Average: $2.96/g) December 9, 2009: $2.91/g (U.S. Average: $2.61/g)

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:

• San Bernardino — $3.66/g, down 6.7 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.73/g.
• Orange County — $3.66/g, down 10.1 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.76/g.
• Los Angeles — $3.72/g, down 9.9 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.82/g.

“OPEC’s surprising oil production cut announced last week may have a negative impact on gas prices in the days ahead, but for now, a majority of states saw gas prices drift lower in the last week as government data showed a large rise in gasoline inventories, perhaps offsetting OPEC’s production cut,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said in a news release. “While OPEC’s announcement was certainly not expected, it lasts just three months until March, which is barely enough time to even see if there’s going to be a high level of compliance or not, effectively making the cut indiscernible to markets. It was the highest profile move OPEC could make that the markets could still entirely dismiss. Refineries, meanwhile, have ramped up output as the end of the year looms, which could also offset any rise in oil prices. Refiners draw down oil inventories ahead of the turn of the year to avoid taxes, which could help lead to increases in refined product inventories and drive prices down. There’s a lot on the table, and that’s without even mentioning the still looming potential trade deal between the U.S. and China.”