RIVERSIDE— January has been good for consumers at the fuel pump although the best may be behind us.
Gasoline prices in Riverside have fallen 4.5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.17 per gallon on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 481 stations in Riverside.
This compares with the national average that has increased 0.5 cents per gallon versus last week on January 6, to $2.24 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
Average gasoline prices on January 14 in Riverside have ranged widely over the last five years: $3.16/g in 2018, $2.79/g in 2017, $2.96/g in 2016, $2.53/g in 2015 and $3.63/g in 2014.
Including the change locally during the past week, prices yesterday were unchanged compared to a year ago and are 12.2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has dropped 14.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 28.4 cents per gallon lower than a year ago in January.
Areas near Riverside and their current gas price climate in January:
- San Bernardino — $3.17/g, down 4.5 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.21/g.
- Orange County — $3.26/g, down 3.8 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.29/g.
- Los Angeles — $3.28/g, down 4.8 cents per gallon from last week’s $3.33/g.
“With oil prices back over $50 per barrel, it looks like gas prices in more areas may soon bottom out and start to tick higher. While it doesn’t seem that prices will rise very far, it looks more and more like the lowest price of the year may now be behind us,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said in a prepared statement. “The national average briefly hit $2.22 per gallon last week, but will likely move up slightly or stabilize this week. Gas prices in the Great Lakes saw a noticeable jump last week and tend to see among the earliest trend changes in the country, which may be a harbinger of what’s to come for the rest of us.”
For LIVE January fuel price averages, click here.
