Gas Prices Fall First Time Since July

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County fell Monday for the first time since July 29, dropping three-tenths of a cent to $4.103.

A 19-day streak of increases that began on July 31 ended Sunday when the average price was unchanged, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The price was also unchanged on July 30.

Monday's three-tenths-of-a-cent decrease was the largest since July 12.

The stretch of rising prices was initially triggered by increasing crude oil prices, which were partly the result of increasing Middle East tensions. A latter cause of the rising prices was the Aug. 6 fire at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, which prompted an immediate increase in wholesale gasoline prices, reflecting fears of reduced supplies.

The average price rose 29.6 cents during the streak of increases. It is 2.4 cents more than one week ago, 34.8 cents higher than one month ago and 38.4 cents greater than one year ago.

–City News Service