Auto Club: Gas Prices Drop Slightly Before Holiday

Gas prices dropped slightly over the past week in most Southern California metro areas ahead of next week's expected record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.44, which is four cents lower than a week ago and the lowest price since January 2023. The average national price is $3.06, which is two cents lower than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.45 per gallon, which is three cents less than last week and 61 cents less than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.53, which is the same as last week and 56 cents lower than this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.45, which is five cents lower than last week and 62 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.32, which is one cent lower than last week and 56 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.43 average price is one cent less than last week and 67 cents lower than a year ago today.

"According to Oil Price Information Service, California gasoline inventories are up for three straight weeks, but fuel production is down compared to the previous week," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "Thanksgiving travelers in Southern California will pay less to fill up for their trips than any Thanksgiving holiday since 2020."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov.21, averages are: