If you filled your gas tank on Sunday, you already know the price of a gallon of gas has risen, again.

Average retail gasoline prices in Riverside County have risen 0.9 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.16 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 481 gas outlets in Riverside County. This compares with the national average that has increased 3.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.52 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Riverside during the past week, prices Sunday were 38.2 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 11.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 9.0 cents per gallon during the past month and stands 18.7 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on Jan. 15 in Riverside have ranged widely over the last five years:

  • $2.78 per gallon in 2017,
  • $2.94 per gallon in 2016,
  • $2.50 per gallon in 2015,
  • $3.63 per gallon in 2014, and
  • $3.65 per gallon in 2013.

Areas near Riverside and their current gas price climate:

  • San Bernardino — $3.14 per gallon, flat  from last week’s $3.14 per gallon.
  • Orange County — $3.20 per gallon, flat  from last week’s $3.21 per gallon.
  • Los Angeles — $3.24 per gallon, flat  from last week’s $3.24 per gallon.

“With oil prices rallying to their highest level since 2014, it’s no surprise that gasoline prices continue to show frustrating strength for this time of year,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said in a prepared statement. “While winter is usually a time for modest declines at the pump, this year has seen anything but. While two years ago areas of the country flirted with sub-$1 gas prices, we now see most areas more than double that.”

One bright spot however, DeHaan said, is that gasoline production remains very strong at a time of year when it tends to be weak, and that could open the door for some larger discounts in the weeks ahead as refiners begin to move winter gasoline out of inventories to prepare for the transition to cleaner burning gasoline. The window is relatively small and closes shortly after Valentines Day, so don’t expect much improvement before the annual spring surge begins.

For LIVE fuel price averages, click HERE.

Image Sources

  • Gasoline tanker: Uken Report