The average price for a gallon of regular self-serve gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Wednesday to $6.258 — the highest since October 2023 — as prices climbed for the 36th straight day. Orange County averaged $6.246, also marking multi-month highs. Analysts point to higher global oil prices after tensions earlier this year as a key driver, and GasBuddy says the national average is the highest for this point in the calendar year.
Southern California Gas Prices Climb for 36th Straight Day; LA and Orange Counties Reach Highest Levels Since Late 2023
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The average price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose Wednesday to $6.258, its highest level since October 2023, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.
Data show pump prices have increased for 36 consecutive days, adding a total of 61.6 cents in Los Angeles County, including a 2.3-cent uptick on Tuesday. The LA average is now 16.9 cents higher than one week ago, 58.4 cents higher than one month ago, and $1.528 above the price recorded a year ago.
Officials and analysts point to elevated global oil prices following heightened tensions earlier this year as a major factor. Since the start of the conflict with Iran in February, the Los Angeles County average has risen by $1.564.
Orange County Sees Similar Increases
Orange County's average reached $6.246 on Wednesday — its highest level since September 2023 — after a 2.2-cent increase. Prices there have also climbed for 36 straight days, gaining 67.1 cents overall, including a 3.2-cent rise on Tuesday. The Orange County average is 17.7 cents above last week, 61.5 cents above last month, and $1.543 more than a year ago. Since February, the OC average has increased by $1.61.
Political Reactions And Public Pushback
On Sunday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that fuel costs were "much higher" under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, writing: "Gas prices were much higher under Biden than under 'TRUMP.' So were almost all other prices." Several Truth Social users disputed the claim with personal accounts and regional comparisons, noting that experiences and peak prices vary by state and market.
"Not in Michigan, liar. The highest it went was $4.49 a gallon. It's $4.99 now," one user wrote. Other users reported differing experiences across states, underscoring how regional supply, taxes and local market conditions affect pump prices.
National Context
Nationally, the average price for gasoline is at its highest level for this time of year, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. GasBuddy tracks live fuel prices at more than 150,000 stations across the U.S., providing near real-time data on regional and national trends.
Image credit: Getty Images
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