The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose today for the 16th consecutive day, increasing three-tenths of a cent to $4.27, its highest amount since March 3,2013.
The average price has increased 23.5 cents over the past 16 days, including eight-tenths of a cent on Wednesday, according to figures from theAAA and Oil Price Information Service.
The average price is 14.8 cents higher than one week ago, 26.9 cents more than one month ago and 29 cents above what it was one year ago.
The increasing prices are the result of reduced supply caused by two refineries being at least partly offline for longer than expected for maintenance, a 35 percent increase in gasoline exports, and an increase in ethanol costs due to difficulties in shipping it from outside California, according to Marie Montgomery of the Automobile Club of Southern California. Ethanol is used as an additive in California's summertime blend of gasoline.
