Gas Prices Fall As Coronavirus Concerns Rise In Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA —More drivers are staying close to home as concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) have grown, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

The lack of demand creates a ripple effect in the cost of crude oil and the recent drop in gas prices. The price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline has dropped at stations across Orange County, AAA reports.

"Crude oil prices are at their lowest levels in more than a year in response to demand drops due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak," said Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.

On Monday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline dropped six-tenths of a cent to $3.474, the lowest it's been since March 22.

Gasoline is also 3.2 cents less than one week ago and 4.4 cents lower than one month ago, but 16.6 cents more than one year ago.

In Los Angeles County, gasoline dropped eight-tenths of a cent for the second consecutive day Sunday, to $3.516, again, the lowest amount since March 22, 2019.

The average price is 4.1 cents less than one week ago and 6.2 cents lower than one month ago, but 16.3 cents more than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

Spring expects that the COVID-19 will have a lingering influence on local gas prices in a way that the refinery fire did not, "unless we learn that the fire will have a long-term impact on Southern California fuel supply," he said.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.