SD average gas price just 6 cents from matching all-time high

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County was 6.3 cents from matching its record Saturday following an increase of 4.5 cents to $6.371, its highest amount since Oct. 7, 2022.

The average price has risen 38 of the past 39 days, increasing 68.9 cents, including 4.5 cents Friday, 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 average price is 17.2 cents more than one week ago, 62.7 cents higher than one month ago and $1.601 greater than one year ago. It has increased $1.685 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 record San Diego County average price is $6.434 set Oct. 5, 2022.

The national average price dropped four-tenths of a cent to $4.487 after back-to-back increases totaling 1.7 cents. It is 1.2 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and $1.339 greater than one year ago.

The national average price has increased $1.505 since the attack on Iran.

The San Diego County average price rose more than 2.4 cents per day over the past week while the national average price rose by less than two- tenths of a cent per day.

“Typically, the start of autumn brings lower gas prices, but lingering volatility in the Strait of Hormuz and the high cost of crude oil are driving up pump prices,” according to the AAA.

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.