Average Encinitas Area Gas Price Sets Record For 12th Consecutive Day

ENCINITAS, CA — Gas prices continue to break records in Encinitas and across the country as summer arrives.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County increased 1.7 cents Wednesday to $6.311, setting a record for the 12th consecutive day, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The average price was $6.294 Tuesday, $6.114 one week ago, $5.837 one month ago, and $4.215 one year ago.

The average price has risen $1.555 since Russia's invasion of Ukraine Feb. 24 "sent shock waves through the oil market that have kept oil costs elevated," said Andrew Gross, a public relations manager with AAA.

Crude oil costs account for slightly more than half of the pump price, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The rest of the price includes the other components of gasoline, production costs, distribution costs, overhead costs for all involved in production, distribution and sales, taxes and carbon offset fees in California paid by the refineries.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in California was $6.390 Wednesday, while the average national price was $4.955, according to AAA.

"After a blistering week of gas prices jumping in nearly every town, city, state and area possible, more bad news is on the horizon. It now appears not if, but when, we'll hit that psychologically critical $5 national average," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information for nearly 150,000 stations nationwide.

"Gasoline inventories continue to decline even with demand softening due to high prices, a culmination of less refining capacity than we had prior to COVID and strong consumption, a situation that doesn't look to improve drastically anytime soon. Nine states have average gas prices that stand beyond the $5 per gallon mark, with more set to join in the days and weeks ahead."