$3 A Gallon Gasoline Is Back, Prices Continue Rising: RivCo

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County reached the $3 mark Friday for the first time since March 30, rising six-tenths of a cent to $3.

The average price has risen 43 times in 45 days, increasing 34 cents, including a half-cent on Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose 23 consecutive days, dropped three-tenths of a cent on May 29, resumed increasing the next day, dropped three-tenths of a cent June 8 and resumed rising June 9.

The run of increases followed 58 decreases in 62 days totaling 80.6 cents, which dropped the average price to its lowest amount since Aug. 30, 2016.

The average price is 4.9 cents more than a week ago and 23.8 cents higher than one month ago but 68.9 cents less than one year ago. It has dropped 50.8 cents since the start of the year.

"This week, Marathon announced that it will not reopen its Martinez refinery for the rest of 2020," said Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.

"While that primarily affects Northern California, it reduces supply options for Southern California as well and refineries have been buying excess supply on the spot market, pushing overall prices higher."