A 24-day streak of decreases in the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County ended Friday with an increase of one-tenth of a cent to $2.426.
The average price dropped 22.9 cents during the streak of decreasing prices to its lowest amount since May 9, 2009, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price is 2.8 cents less than one week ago, 21.7 cents lower than one month ago and $1.185 below what it was one year ago.
The wholesale gasoline price has risen sharply recently as investors anticipate a tightening of supply from local refineries, which are performing maintenance as they prepare to switch from making the winter fuel blend to the summer blend, according to Jeffrey Spring, the corporate communications manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California.
Air quality requirements mandate the switch for most Southern California gas stations to sell the summer fuel blend by April 1 to reduce air pollution in warmer temperatures.
—City News Service