Gas prices in LA, Orange counties soar to new highs

LOS ANGELES - The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose another three cents Sunday to $6.351, reaching a record high for the ninth consecutive day.

The average price has increased for 11 straight days, rising 26 cents, including 5.5 cents Saturday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 19.9 cents more than one week ago, 51.1 cents higher than one month ago and $2.112 greater than one year ago.

The Orange County average price rose 2.4 cents to its ninth consecutive all-time high, $6.33. It has increased for 10 straight days, rising 27.1 cents, including six cents Saturday. The Orange County average price is 19.6 cents more than one week ago, 54.6 cents higher than one month ago and $2.138 greater than one year ago.

The average price in both counties has increased $1.55 since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 "sent shock waves through the oil market that have kept oil costs elevated," said Andrew Gross, an AAA national public relations manager.

Crude oil costs account for slightly more than half of the pump price, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The rest of the price includes the other components of gasoline, production costs, distribution costs, overhead costs for all involved in production, distribution and sales, taxes and carbon offset fees in California paid by the refineries.

The national average price rose 2.9 cents to $4.848, its ninth consecutive record.

High demand for travel heading into summer and continued concerns about global and local supply of gasoline will continue to put upward pressure on pump prices, according to Doug Shupe, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.