Gas Prices Hit Record High

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in San Diego today -- $3.96 -- was a record for any day in any February, the consumer group UCAN reported today.

And UCAN's Charles Langley warned there probably won't be any price relief at the pump in the near future for San Diego residents.

He said the price has jumped 7.6 cents per gallon since Monday and should top $4 per gallon by President's Day. If that happens, it would beat today's new record.

Langley cited media reports that two major Southern California refineries have temporarily shut down for maintenance to comply with federal clean air mandates and that typically drives prices up.

The resulting crimp in supply has left dealers purchasing surplus fuel on the "spot market," which is forcing independent stations to pay more for gas at the wholesale level than name-brand chains, according to Langley. He said that is the reverse of the typical order of things.

Usually, independent stations acquire surplus gas at lower prices than chains, allowing them to then sell for less per-gallon, he said.

Langley said that now, with higher wholesale costs, the independent stations are charging more than their name-brand competitors.

Earlier today, the AAA and Oil Price Information service reported the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its greatest daily increase since Sept. 2, rising 3.4 cents to $3.944, the most expensive since Sept. 19.

The average price has risen 22 consecutive days and is 13.2 cents more than one week ago, 22 cents higher than one month ago and 46.5 cents greater than a year ago, according to the figures.

The average price has risen 20.7 cents over the past 22 days, including 2.9 cents on Wednesday.

- City News Service