Even At $4+ Per Gallon, Riverside County Gas Still Cheaper Than Elsewhere

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire rose today for the 11th consecutive day, increasing eight-tenths of a cent to $4.041, the most since Aug. 14, 2008.

The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties is 4.5 cents above what it was one week ago, 27.1 cents higher than one month ago and 94.5 cents greater than it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The average price is 57.3 cents less than the record high of $4.614 set on June 22, 2008.

"State gas prices have spiked by 22 percent in the first three months of the year and are 30 percent higher than a year ago at this time, primarily because world events have prompted heavy investments in gasoline and oil
futures, crude oil and wholesale gasoline,'' said Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

"For a 14-gallon tank of regular unleaded, Southern California drivers are now paying $56 on average. On Jan. 1, a 14-gallon fill-up cost $46 on average and a year ago at this time, Southland drivers paid an average of $43 for 14 gallons.''

According to the Automobile Club of Southern California, it's still cheaper to buy gas in Riverside County and San Bernardino counties than anywhere else in the region.

As of 3 p.m. on March 31, the gas price averages were:  

Toni McAllister and City News Service contributed to this report.