Find Lake Elsinore's Cheapest Gas This Weekend As RivCo Prices Rise

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rose Friday for the 16th consecutive day, recording its most significant increase since April 30, 1.4 cents.

Prepare for a long wait at Lake Elsinore's cheapest gas station. At Vons, on De Palma Road and Indian Truck Trail, regular unleaded was available at $5.55 per gallon as of Friday morning, according to GasBuddy.com.

The average price has increased 12.2 cents over the past 16 days, including four-tenths of a cent Thursday, to $5.827, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The streak of rising prices follows a run of eight decreases in 10 days, totaling 3.2 cents.

The average price is 5.3 cents more than one week ago, 6.7 cents higher than one month ago and $1.75 greater than one year ago. It is 14.4 cents lower than the record high of $5.971 set March 29.

The national average price rose 1.4 cents Friday to a record $4.432, erasing the previous record set Thursday.

"The Phillips 66 Wilmington refinery has been undergoing planned maintenance for nearly a month, keeping upward pressure on local prices, according to Oil Price Information Service," said Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.

"Another phenomenon that has occurred during this latest price run-up is that premium gasoline has become even more expensive compared to regular-grade gasoline. The Auto Club's Automotive Research Center has found that if your vehicle's manual just recommends premium fuel and does not require it, the vehicle will operate safely and efficiently with the much less expensive regular gas."