Gas Prices Set Christmas Day Record

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County set a record for Christmas Day, $3.587, erasing the previous record of $3.578 set last year, this despite decreasing 75 of the past 77 days.

This is the third consecutive year the average price has set a record for Christmas, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

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Prices are typically lower in the winter than the summer, when higher demand pushes prices up. The record price is $4.705, set on Oct. 9.

The average price fell two-tenths of a cent Tuesday, one day after increasing for the first time since Oct. 9, increasing one-tenth of a cent. It is 3.4 cents less than one week ago and 22 cents lower than one month ago, but nine-tenths of a cent more than one year ago.

The average price is at its lowest amount since Dec. 27, 2011.

The Orange County average price also rose to a Christmas Day record for a third consecutive year, increasing three-tenths of a cents to $3.554, topping the previous record of $3.553 set last year.

The increase was the second in three days after a 75-day streak of dropping prices ended when it rose two-tenths of a cent Sunday. The Orange County average price decreased six-tenths of a cent Monday.

The Orange County average price is 3.1 cents less than one week ago and 21.2 cents lower than one month ago, but one-tenth of a cent more than one year ago.