The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County has gone up 29 consecutive days and 49 out of the past 50 days.

Motorists have not seen gasoline prices this high since December 13th 2019.

The average price has increased 40.4 cents over the past 50 days, and is averaging more than $3.58 per gallon.

“One of the major factors behind rising gas prices in Southern California is trader activity in the futures markets, an indicator that traders see California gasoline as a good investment because it historically goes up in price in
the spring,” says Marie Montgomery, a public relations specialist with the Automobile Club of Southern California.

“There’s not a lot of actual return of gasoline demand to pre-pandemic levels, but traders are predicting it will pick up once vaccine distribution is more widespread.”
 

A hand pushing a gasoline nozzle into the gas tank of a car.

Photo by Alpha Media USA Portland OR