Gas Prices Jump as Holiday Nears

Palos Verdes residents who plan on filling up their tanks this Labor Day weekend should expect some of the highest gas prices on record for the holiday, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline.

Local gas prices jumped by almost two cents a day during the past week.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.867 per gallon, which is 13.6 cents higher than last week, five cents higher than last month, and 82 cents higher than last year.

In San Diego, the price is $3.873, an increase of 13.4 cents from last week, six cents above last month, and 81 cents higher than last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.901, up 12.5 cents from last week, five cents higher than a month ago, and 79 cents above last year.

In the Inland Empire, the average per gallon price is $3.836, up 12.8 cents from last week, four cents higher than last month, and 80 cents more than last year.

“Gas prices have gone up around the country over the past week, but not by double digits as we’ve seen in California,” said Auto Club spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. “Refinery issues are being blamed for the spike, and unfortunately that means holiday travelers will be paying prices for their Labor Day fuel that are near or beyond what they paid in 2008, our record-breaking year for gas prices.” 

The stations currently selling the cheapest gas in the Palos Verdes area are listed below. Local prices are according to GasBuddy.com and reflect prices reported within the last 24 hours.

• Regular: $3.79
• Premium: $4.01

• Regular: $3.81
• Premium: $4.01

• Regular: $3.89
• Premium: $4.09

Click here for more prices in the region. If you are planning a trip, click here and plug in your travel plans to find out how much it will cost.