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Southern California gasoline prices fall for fourth straight week

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Times staff writer

Four straight weeks of declines at the pump have dropped regular gasoline at a few service stations in Southern California below $4 a gallon for the first time since February, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch.

The average cost of a gallon of regular in California is still 6.5 cents higher than it was at this time last year, at $4.245. But that is a drop of 4.5 cents a gallon since last week and a drop of 11.6 cents since last month.

“A little more price competition appears to be happening among gas stations, which is good news for drivers,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “Drivers can help encourage further price reductions by shopping around for the best prices, as long as they’re not driving far out of their way. As of today, Escondido, Paramount, Huntington Beach and Bakersfield are among the cities with the lowest gas prices, according to AAA.com/TripTik.”

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According to another fuel price watch service, Gasbuddy.com, some of that competition was happening in Paramount, where two ARCO stations, an S.S. Fuel, and a Petro Gras Gas station -- all on Alondra Boulevard -- were selling a gallon of regular for $3.99. That was the lowest price listed so far today in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area.

The Automobile Club said the average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.268 per gallon, which is 4.6 cents less than last week, 12.6 cents lower than last month, and 8 cents higher than last year.

In San Diego, the price is $4.262, 4.2 cents below last week, 11.6 cents below last month and 9 cents higher than last year.

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On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.325, down 3.5 cents from last week, 11.2 cents lower than a month ago and 11 cents above last year.

In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $4.267, down 3.7 cents from last week, 10.9 cents lower than last month and 11 cents more than last year.

The national average was on the decline as well, although it was still 9.9 cents higher than it was on the same day last year. The average for a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. fell to $3.907, down 2.9 cents since last week.

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