Slight Increase Extends Run of Rising Average Riverside County Gas Prices

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - The run of increases to the average price of a
gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County was extended today to
58 in 59 days, but barely, rising two-tenths of a cent to $5.815.
  

The average price has increased $1.674 during the run, including eight-
tenths of a cent on Thursday, to its highest amount since Oct. 9, 2023,
according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It rose 20
consecutive days, was unchanged Feb. 18 and resumed increasing the next day.
  

The average price is 19.1 cents more than one week ago, $1.268 higher
than one month ago and $1.278 greater than one year ago. It is 55.8 cents less
than the record $6.373 set on Oct. 5, 2022.
  

Prices were rising slightly in line with seasonal norms before the
joint U.S./Israel attack on Iran on Feb. 28 sent oil prices higher and
drastically accelerated increases at the gas pump.
  

``Southern California gas prices are following a similar pattern to
the spike we saw after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022,'' Kandace Redd,
the Automobile Club of Southern California's senior public affairs specialist,
said in a statement released Thursday.
  

``Today marks 27 days since the Iran conflict began, and the Los
Angeles average gas price has risen by $1.26 a gallon since then. During the
same number of days after the Russia-Ukraine war began, the Los Angeles average
gas price rose by $1.19 a gallon to an average price of over $6 a gallon.''
  

The national average price dropped for the second consecutive day,
decreasing three-tenths of a cent to $3.978, following a 25-day streak of
increases totaling $1.001 that boosted it to its highest amount since Aug. 11,
2022.
  

The national average price is 6.6 cents more than one week ago, 99.6
cents higher than one month ago and 82.3 cents greater than one year ago. It is
$1.038 less than the record $5.016 set on June 14, 2022.
  

Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.