The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County topped $6 for the first time in three months Friday, rising 2.2 cents to $6.017.
The average price has increased 23 of the past 24 days, rising 33.5 cents, including 2.3 cents Thursday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose 12 consecutive days, dropped four-tenths of a cent Aug. 31, then resumed increasing the following day.
The price was last at $6 on June 3.
The average price is 10.1 cents more than one week ago, 33.9 cents higher than one month ago and $1.279 greater than one year ago. It has increased $1.331 since the start of the joint U.S./Israel war on Iran on Feb. 28, which sent oil prices higher and drastically accelerated increases at the gas pump.
“Oil prices are now near or over $100 a barrel due to continued supply concerns related to the Middle East conflict, and that has pushed up pump prices locally and nationally,” Doug Shupe, the media and public relations manager for the Automobile Club of Southern California said in a statement released Thursday.
The national average price rose for the 11th time in 12 days, increasing 1.8 cents to $4.295. It has risen 21.7 cents over the past 12 days, including 5.3 cents Thursday.
The national average price increased five consecutive days, dropped two-tenths of a cent Saturday and resumed rising Sunday. It is 14.8 cents more than one week ago, 28.4 cents higher than one month ago and $1.101 greater than one year ago.
The national average price has increased $1.313 since the attack on Iran.
“The national average is increasing during a season when gas prices typically go down due to lower gasoline demand,” according to the AAA, formerly the American Automobile Association.
The national average price is at its highest amount this late in the calendar year, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, which provides real-time gas price information from more than 150,000 stations.
