The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County surpassed the $3 mark for the first time since Dec. 6 today, rising 4 cents to $3.003.
The sharp increase comes four days after an explosion damaged the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, causing a partial shutdown, reducing supply.
The average price has increased 24 consecutive days, rising 57.8 cents, including 5.4 cents on Saturday, the largest daily increase since Feb. 2, 2013, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price is 18.2 cents more than one week ago and 53.7 cents higher than one month ago. However, it is 84.2 cents less than one year ago thanks to a 24-day streak of decreases immediately before the current string of increases began.
The 24-day streak of increases is the longest since a 27-day streak from Jan. 29-Feb. 24, 2013.
—City News Service
