Wildomar Gas Prices Drop Slightly, Relief In Sight For Summer Drivers?

WILDOMAR, CA — Gas prices have dropped slightly for the second day in a row, drawing drivers to fill up the tanks before Father's Day and Juneteenth weekend. The drop halted a steady incline of gas prices that brought many drivers to shake their heads at the pump, seeking ways to reduce fuel consumption and stay closer to home across Riverside County.

With gas prices hovering over $6 a gallon in Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, crowdsourced websites like GasBuddy.com are helping drivers find the lowest local prices, daily.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped Thursday for the second consecutive day following a run of 18 increases in 19 days, decreasing seven-tenths of a cent to $6.322.

A 17-day streak of increases totaling 34.6 cents ended Monday when the average price was unchanged. The average price rose eight-tenths of a cent Tuesday to a record $6.33, then dropped one-tenth of a cent Wednesday, its first decrease since May 26.

The average price is 3.9 cents more than one week ago, 39.9 cents higher than one month ago and $2.149 greater than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

The average price has risen $1.607 since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 "sent shock waves through the oil market that have kept oil costs elevated," said Andrew Gross, an AAA national public relations manager.

Crude oil costs account for slightly more than half of the pump price, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The rest of the price includes the other components of gasoline, production costs, distribution costs, overhead costs for all involved in the production, distribution and sales, taxes and carbon offset fees in California paid by the refineries.

The national average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline dropped for the second consecutive day following an 18-day streak of increases, decreasing a half-cent to $5.009. The average price rose 41.5 cents during the streak, setting a record each day. It dropped two-tenths of a cent Wednesday.

The national average is 3.9 cents more than one week ago, 52.6 cents higher than one month ago and $1.934 greater than one year ago.