Gasoline Price Falls for 13th Consecutive Day

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline fell in Los Angeles County Tuesday for the 13th consecutive day, but by only one-tenth of a cent, settling at $4.298.

The average has dropped 11.3 cents over the past 13 days, including six-tenths of a cent on Monday, and is 5.8 cents less than one week ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

However, the average price is 11.5 cents more than one month ago and 23.1 cents higher than one year ago because of a 17.9-cent increase over a seven-day span immediately preceding the decreases. The price hikes were blamed on low inventories stemming from the closures of refineries in Southern and Northern California for maintenance.

Click the Commute tab at the top of this page for the current gasoline prices in Encino and Tarzana.

The Orange County average price also decreased today for the 13th consecutive day, falling seven-tenths of a cent to $4.259 -- 7.4 cents less than one week ago, but 10.4 cents more than one week ago and 21.9 cents higher than one year ago.

The Orange County average price has declined 13 cents over the past 13 days, including including a half-cent on Monday, but rose 18.4 cents during a seven-day streak of increases immediately preceding the latest declines. Analysts have attributed the decreasing prices to increasing supplies.