SOUTHLAND – Santa Barbara set a new all-time record average gas price Thursday and other Southern California cities are within pennies of their record levels, but prices could reverse course soon, according to the Auto Club’s Weekend Gas Watch.

Thursday’s statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $6.40, which is 17 cents higher than last week, $1.76 higher than at this time last year, and four cents shy of the all-time record of $6.44 set on June 15, 2022. The national average is $4.41, which is seven cents lower than last week and $1.25 higher than on this date last year.

In Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, the average price is $6.39, which is a new record.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles–Long Beach area is $6.43 per gallon. In San Diego, the average price is $6.42.

In Riverside, the average price per gallon is $6.17, 15 cents higher than last week and $1.57 higher than a year ago.

“Oil Price Information Service reports that California wholesale gasoline prices dropped by 20 cents Thursday after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement late Monday that the cheaper winter-blend gasoline will be allowed to be sold immediately in California gas stations,” said Auto Club spokesperson Kandace Redd. “We expect pump prices to begin falling soon.” (Source: AAA SoCal)

Story Date: October 8, 2026