Auto Club: Gas Prices Continue Decreasing Slightly

Southern California gas prices continued their slow downward trend and decreased slightly in most areas over the past week, according to the Auto Club's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price for self-serve regular gasoline in California is $4.59, which is one cent less than a week ago. The average national price is $3.38, which is six cents lower than a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.55 per gallon, which is two cents less than last week and 81 cents less than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $4.65, which is two cents lower than last week and 68 cents lower than this time last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.67, which is two cents lower than last week and 60 cents lower than last year. In Riverside, the average per-gallon price is $4.44, which is three cents lower than last week and 80 cents lower than a year ago. In Bakersfield, the $4.60 average price is three cents less than last week and 55 cents lower than a year ago today.

"Southern Californians planning Labor Day road trips will be paying less at the pump than last year," said Auto Club spokesperson Doug Shupe. "The Auto Club encourages drivers to save even more on fuel costs by packing all luggage inside the vehicle rather than using overhead luggage racks, obeying speed limits and making sure tires are properly inflated before hitting the road."

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Aug. 22, averages are: