San Diego residents have been experiencing somewhat of a rollercoaster ride when it comes to gas prices lately. Recently, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose seven-tenths of a cent to $4.956, after dropping 1.3 cents over the previous seven days according to the Times of San Diego. This dip was followed by a slight increase on Saturday, July 23, reaching $4.951 and ending a streak of four consecutive decreases.
Just a day before the increase, on July 24, the average gas price in San Diego was $4.95, slightly higher than the California average of $4.89 per a Stacker article. The week's change showed a one-cent decrease, while the one-year change saw a significant reduction of 76 cents, equivalent to a 13.3% drop. However, the all-time high gas price occurred on October 5, 2022, at a staggering $6.43 per gallon.
As for diesel prices, they experienced an increase of four cents within a week, reaching $5.02 on July 24 as stated by Stacker. The one-year change for diesel prices marked a considerable decrease of $1.40, equivalent to 21.9%. The record high for diesel prices was reported on June 18, 2022, at $6.85 per gallon.
These fluctuations in gas prices have left some motorists confused and concerned. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, took to Twitter to advise motorists with tanks on "E" to fill up sooner rather than later. De Haan predicts that the national average gas price could rise by 5-10 cents per gallon this week, with increases of 10-25 cents per gallon in some states as reported by the Times of San Diego.
Comparing gas prices to other cities, San Diego ranks below Lihue, Hawaii, where the average gas price is $5.20, and San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, California, with a $5.17 average according to the same Stacker article. Meanwhile, cities with the lowest gas prices include Lawton, Oklahoma, at $3.00, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, at $3.02, and Jackson, Mississippi, at $3.05.
Given the unpredictable nature of gas price fluctuations, San Diego residents are advised to keep a close eye on price trends in their area to take advantage of dips when they occur.
