Business & Tech

County Gas Prices Top $4 a Gallon

At least three Glendora gas stations are selling regular gas for more than $4 a gallon.

The rising numbers at Ed Farraj’s pumps left the Shell gas station owner grimacing.

For two weeks, Farraj has been selling gas at more than $4 a gallon for regular self-serve gasoline.

On a Friday afternoon, his pumps at the corner of Route 66 and Lone Hill Avenue were empty. It seems the day’s price for regular gasoline – $4.15 a gallon – was a hard sell for most people.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

“It’s hurting us a lot,” Farraj said of the gas hike, the worst in 20 months. Farraj said he has seen his business fall by 50 percent.

This week, the average price for regular self-serve gasoline in Los Angeles County hit $4 a gallon, the first time since August 19, 2009. That is up 3.3 cents higher than a week ago, and nearly 33 cents from a month ago.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

In Glendora, prices for regular gasoline have crept past $4 in at least three gas stations with other stations hovering near the $4-mark, according to figures from Gasbuddy.com.

As of Friday, the cheapest gas rate for regular gas was $3.89 at the Valero gas station, 934 S Grand Ave., according to the Web site.

The county record high of $4.62 was set on June 21, 2008.

According to Marie Montgomery, spokesperson for American Automobile Association, the soaring gas prices are driven by the unrest in the middle east and north Africa.

“Everybody knows there’s lots of turmoil in the world especially in the middle east and in North Africa,” Montgomery said. “Unfortunately, it’s wreaking havoc on the oil market and wholesale gas market, and we’re paying the price here.”

Although Montgomery said that Libya primarily transports oil to Europe rather than the United States, she said the fear of possible supply disruption is what is driving current gas prices.

“The market is betting that prices will be higher tomorrow than today,” said Montgomery.

But it may be too early to tell if relief at the pumps is coming any time soon.

“It’s really dependent on what’s going on in other countries,” said Montgomery.

The AAA offered these tips in conserving gas and saving money as gas prices surge ahead:

  •  Start tracking your daily mileage and create a plan.
  •  Try carpooling with co-workers, or telecommuting if possible.
  •  Walk or use public transportation when you can.
  •  http://AAA.com/triptik allows you to map recent gas prices in any local area.
  • Use the shortest route
  •  Avoid rush hour. Stop-and-go traffic wastes more gasoline.
  •  Avoid speeding. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drivers who travel more than 60 miles per hour are reducing their fuel economy anywhere from seven to 23 percent.
  •  Under-inflated tires will reduce your fuel economy by 2 percent per pound of pressure below the recommended level.

City News Service contributed to this report.

 




Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here