​Gas Prices Hit Record High In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline hit a record high Wednesday in San Diego County.

The average price went up 1 cent Wednesday to $4.726. The previous San Diego County record high was $4.725 set Oct. 8, 2012.

"We have been seeing gas price records being broken around Southern California in the past two weeks," said Marie Montgomery Nordhues, a spokeswoman for the Automobile Club of Southern California. "As of today, every major Southern California metropolitan area except for Bakersfield has set a new record price."

The average price has risen 15 times in 16 days, increasing 10.2 cents, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The average price was $4.716 Tuesday, $4.694 one week ago, $4.628 one month ago, and $3.530 one year ago.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.719, while the average national price is $3.514, according to AAA.

"Oil industry analysts tell us the two major factors behind the rising gas prices are high oil prices — partly driven by concerns about international tensions — and inflation," Montgomery Nordhues told Patch. "This is also the time of year that Southern California gas prices traditionally increase between 30 to 50 cents a gallon until May or June, because of refineries switching to producing the more expensive 'summer blend' of gasoline that the state requires to reduce pollution. "