Gas Prices Drop for Month Straight

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire decreased today for the 31st consecutive day, falling four-tenths of a cent to $4.214 -- its lowest amount since Feb. 23.

The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties is 3.7 cents less than one week ago, 15.5 cents lower than one month ago and 2.2 cents below what it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price
Information Service.

The average price has dropped 16.5 cents over the past 31 days, including eight-tenths of a cent on Thursday.

The difference may be slight, but it adds up, some Temecula residents at a local gas station said.

"Anything helps, but we'll never see those $1 days again," said Joe De Lafe of Temecula.

The streak of declines is the longest since a 37-day streak that ended on Dec. 23.

"While prices have dropped to almost the same level as this time last year, those April 2011 prices were nearly the highest prices that drivers paid during all of 2011,'' said Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.
"Motorists need to continue actively shopping around for gas prices and make sure they are maximizing their fuel economy by avoiding peeding and regularly checking their tires for proper inflation,'' he said.

- Peter Surowski contributed to this report.