Tired of Being Pounded at the Pump?

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Saturday for the second time since May 6, increasing a half-cent to $3.784.

The only other time the average price increased in the past 64 days was June 20 when it rose six-tenths of a cent, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

Despite the increase, the average price is 2 cents less than one week
ago and 19.8 cents lower than a month ago but 66.5 cents more than a year ago. 

"Positive developments in Greece and a weaker U.S. dollar drove crude
oil prices higher this past week, which may be why this week's price decreases are not as steep as we've seen in prior weeks,'' said Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

"Oil futures are traded in U.S. dollars, which means that when the
dollar weakens, investors, including those holding foreign currencies, get comparatively more oil for their money. This makes crude oil a more attractive investment, which pressures prices upward,'' he said.

-- City News Service