Can You Find Gas in Chatsworth Cheaper Than $3.39?

Despite the bad weather and rising gasoline prices, thousands of Angelenos have taken to the freeways for the Presidents Day weekend.

So if you are looking to fill up before hitting the road, the lowest price for a self-serve gallon of regular gas in Chatsworth is $3.39 at the Arco station at 20455 Devonshire St., according to GasBuddy.com.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the average price in Los Angeles County rose to its highest level since Oct. 6, 2008, by increasing 2 cents to $3.544, one day after increasing another 2.2 cents.

The 17th increase in 18 days pushed the average price 11.2 cents higher than a week ago, 19 cents above what it was one month ago and 60.2 cents greater than it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

``Even though news reports say that crude oil prices have dropped in the past month, those reports are referring to West Texas Intermediate crude, which is not the type of oil used by California refineries,'' said Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

``Imported crude oil is trading at $100 a barrel or more right now and California refineries are using more imported oil as Alaska oil production has dropped. Concerns about worldwide inflation as well as unrest in the Middle East are combining to push foreign oil and local gas prices higher,'' he said.

Crude oil costs account for two-thirds to three-quarters of the price of a gallon of gasoline, according to Tupper Hull, vice president of strategic communications for the Western States Petroleum Association, a trade association representing oil companies in six western states.

-- City News Service contributed to this report.