SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County rose to within one-tenth of a cent of its record Wednesday, increasing 2 cents to $6.017.
The average price has risen 15 of the past 16 days, increasing 23.8 cents, including 3.9 cents Tuesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 16.5 cents more than one week ago, 25.1 cents higher than one month ago and $1.863 greater than one year ago.
The record high is $6.018 set March 29.
It's not the news drivers wanted to wake up to Wednesday morning, as gas prices have hit a record high in California and analysts believe these prices will be sticking around through the summer months.
"Just looking at the prices, it does hurt, but what am I going to do?" Michael Ahumada, a driver, said. "I need to get around. We all have to get around."
Ahumada said, like every other driver, his hands are tied. He needs to drive to work, his car needs gas, and gas is getting expensive.
The national average price rose 4.4 cents to $4.567, erasing the previous record set Tuesday.
In Chula Vista, at the Shell Gas Station on H street, drivers are paying $6.49 for a gallon of gas. In Coronado, $6.79 for a gallon of regular gas.
ABC 10News caught up with Casey McLynden, whose from Chicago. He and his wife took a road trip from the Bay area to San Diego.
Seven days in different cities, they are filling up their rental car along the way.
He adds, "It's been pricey, Chicago gas is maybe $4.50, and you come down here. And it's two bucks more. So we probably drove 12,000 miles total. You do the math; it adds up!"
The rising pump prices are the result of the high cost of oil, according to Andrew Gross, an AAA national public relations manager. The price of a barrel of July Brent crude on ICE Futures Europe fell $2.31 Tuesday to settle at $111.93 after hitting its highest intraday price since March 28.
Brent crude is the global oil benchmark, accounting for approximately 80% of the world's crude oil.
Crude oil costs account for slightly more than half of the pump price, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The rest of the price includes the other components of gasoline, production costs, distribution costs, overhead costs for all involved in production, distribution and sales, taxes and carbon offset fees in California paid by the refineries.
And analysts warn that $6 or more could be the national average by August.
