Gas Prices Rise to Average $3.57 in San Diego County

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose Tuesday to $3.572, the highest amount since Oct. 2008, increasing 1 cent one day after increasing 1.1 cents.

Tuesday's rise is the 18th increase in 20 days and has pushed the average price 12.4 cents higher than a week ago, about 22 cents above what it was one month ago and 64.4 cents greater than it was one year ago, according to figures from the American Automotive Association and Oil Price Information Service.

The increased pump prices are the result of rising prices for imported crude oil, the type used by California refineries, according to Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Imported oil prices are rising because of concerns about worldwide inflation and recent unrest in Libya, Egypt and other parts of the Middle East, Spring said.

Crude oil costs account for two-thirds to three-quarters of the price of a gallon of gasoline, according to Tupper Hull, vice president of strategic communications for the Western States Petroleum Association, a trade association representing oil companies in six western states.

City News Service contributed to this report.