The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose Saturday for the 52nd time in 54 days, increasing four-tenths of a cent to $3.964, its highest amount since Nov. 17, 2019.
The average price has risen 48.4 cents over the past 54 days, including a half-cent Friday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 2.2 cents higher than one week ago, 22.1 cents more than one month ago and 93.2 cents greater than one year ago.
The only two days since Feb. 9 that the average price has not increased were March 21, when it dropped one-tenth of a cent, and Monday, when it was unchanged.
The pump price is expected to continue increasing because "demand is continuing to rise as more Southern Californians get vaccinated and pandemic restrictions ease," said Jeffrey Spring, the Automobile Club of Southern California's corporate communications manager.
The crude oil price and supply and demand are the two most important factors in the pump price.