California Gas Prices Start to Drop Amid Crude Oil Price Decline

Riverside County's gas prices have finally started to drop after months of increases. The average price per gallon of self-serve regular gasoline decreased by 1 cent on Sunday to $6.313, marking a slight reprieve from the previous 44-day streak of price hikes.

This recent dip brings the average price within 4.4 cents of its all-time record set on October 5, 2022, when gas prices reached $6.373 per gallon. Analysts had predicted that California's gas prices would begin to drop after Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement last Monday allowing cheaper winter-blend gasoline to be sold immediately in the state.

The national average price also dropped for the ninth consecutive day, decreasing by 1.1 cents to $4.369. This decline comes as crude oil prices have dipped back into the $90 per barrel range, lowering the national average. However, gas prices remain at their highest levels for this time of year.