L.A.-area gas prices dip to January lows, but they’re leveling out

Gasoline prices in some regions of Southern California have reached their lowest levels since Jan. 3, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Weekend Gas Watch. But after two months of declines, prices at the pump have begun to level out.

The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline has dropped 70 cents during that time. But this week prices fell by less than a penny a day, the Auto Club said. At least they aren’t rising yet, said an Auto Club spokesman.

“Many other areas of the country, particularly in the Midwest, are experiencing price increases,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring, “and most Southern California drivers are now paying lower prices than those in Chicago and New York City.”

Spring added, “For now, local savvy gas shoppers are in the rare position of being able to pay just a few cents a gallon more than today’s national average price of $3.38 a gallon for regular unleaded.”

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.692 per gallon, which is 3.7 cents less than last week, 41 cents lower than last month, and 10 cents lower than last year.

In Orange County, a gallon of regular is averaging $3.643, down 3.5 cents since last week and down 41.1 cents since last month. That’s also 13.2 cents lower than the price a year earlier.

In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.655, down 4.5 cents from last week, 42 cents from last month, and 11 cents from last year.

In San Diego, the price is $3.676, 3.2 cents below last week, 40 cents below last month, and 10 cents below last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.771, down 3.9 cents from last week, 39 cents from a month ago, and 7 cents from last year.

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