Gas Prices In Encinitas Inch Down, National Average Creeps Up

ENCINITAS, CA — San Diego County's average price of self-serve regular gasoline dropped four-tenths of a cent Tuesday to $4.62 after remaining unchanged for three consecutive days.

The average price is seven-tenths of a cent less than one week ago but one-tenth of a cent more than one month ago and $1.241 higher than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price has dropped 5 cents since rising to $4.67 on Nov. 28, its highest amount since Oct. 12, 2012.

"Prices are stable, at a high level," Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager told City News Service. "Gas prices in the region never fell at the same rate as did oil prices when the price dropped from $85 per barrel to around $64 in November and December 2021. Although oil prices have again increased, gas prices around California have remained flat.

"However, we're about to go into the turnaround period when refineries start producing summer blend gasoline, which is more expensive to produce so we'll have to see how that affects gas prices."

And while gas prices inched down slightly across San Diego County, pump prices are still rising across the country.

The national average price for a gallon of gas is $3.33, two cents more than a week ago and 94 cents more than a year ago.

Experts previously pointed to the omicron variant as the culprit for elevated gas prices, but now U.S. energy officials are pointing to rising prices for oil.

"Since dipping to $3.28 in the first week of January, the national average for a gallon of gas has slowly started to rise again,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “And as long as the price for oil remains elevated, consumers will be feeling it at the pump."

California remains the most expensive market for gasoline, with an average of $4.64 per gallon.

City News Service contributed to this report.