San Diego gas prices drop for 16th consecutive day

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County dropped for the 16th consecutive day Saturday, falling 2.1 cents to $6.247.

The average price has dropped 18 cents over the past 16 days, including 1.4 cents Friday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The streak follows a run of 42 increases in 44 days totaling 74.5 cents that brought the average price within seven-tenths of a cent of its record, $6.434, set on Oct. 5, 2022.

The average price is 9.6 cents less than one week ago, but 9 cents more than one month ago and $1.488 more than one year ago. It has increased $1.561 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.

The dropping prices are the result of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement Sept. 28 that cheaper winter-blend gasoline would be allowed to be sold immediately instead of the customary Nov. 1 date.

“California continues to be the only state with an average price above $6 a gallon, and Hawaii, Nevada and Washington are the only three states with average prices above $5 a gallon,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, said in a statement released Thursday.

“Los Angeles wholesale gas prices have dropped significantly in the last couple of weeks, so there is plenty of momentum for pump prices to drop further in coming weeks as long as no supply issues occur.”

The national average price dropped nine-tenths of a cent to $4.308. It is 5.8 cents less than one week ago and 13 cents less than one month ago, but $1.257 more than one year ago. It has increased $1.326 since the attack on Iran.