Gas Prices Drop Ahead Of July 4 Holiday Weekend Near Banning, Beaumont

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire dropped Friday for the 18th consecutive day and 28th time in the last 29 days, decreasing three-tenths of a cent to $2.878, its lowest amount since Feb. 10.

The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties has dropped 14.3 cents over the past 29 days, including a half-cent on both Wednesday and Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price is 3.7 cents less than one week ago, 14.4 cents lower than one month ago and 3.1 cents below what it was one year ago, but 12 cents more than on Jan. 1.

Southern California gas prices are at their lowest pre-Independence Day levels since 2005 in most areas, according to Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.

– By City News Service / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone