Cost of Gas Drops Slightly in Orange County

After more than a month straight of increases, the average cost of a gallon of gas in Orange County, dropped less than a cent Monday.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline fell in Orange County Monday for the first time since July 12.

The Orange County average price today recorded its first daily decrease since July 12, falling four-tenths of a cent to $4.094, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The Orange County average price is 1.4 cents more than one week ago, 34.6 cents higher than one month ago and 39.6 cents greater than one year ago. A 21-day streak of increases ended in Orange County Sunday when the average price was unchanged.

Increasing crude oil prices, which were partially the result of increasing Middle East tensions, initially triggered the latest stretch of rising prices. A latter cause was the Aug. 6 fire at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, which prompted wholesale gasoline prices to begin rising the following day, reflecting fears of reduced supplies.

In the Seal Beach, Los Alamitos and Rossmoor areas, the cheapest gas stations are:

• $4.04  at Seal Beach Mobil Mart,12240 Seal Beach Blvd.
• $4.10  Conkle Russ Unocal, 12071 Seal Beach Blvd.
• $4.11  at Shell, 10961 Los Alamitos Blvd.

- City News Service