Gas Prices Near Banning, Beaumont Rise Slightly Ahead of Christmas

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA – The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire rose four-tenths of a cent Friday to $2.679, after not changing by more than two-tenths of a cent five of the previous six days.

The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties is 1.3 cents more than one week ago but 3.8 cents less than one month ago and 15.1 cents lower than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

"Gasoline demand from Mexico could be playing a role in preventing further price drops at local gasoline stations, as refineries both on the West Coast and Gulf Coast are reportedly shipping excess supplies there," said Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.

"However, the 6.8 million Southland residents going by car to holiday destinations will be paying less to fill up than for any other Christmas-New Year's holiday since 2008."

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