Gasoline Prices Jump Locally, Nationwide

Rising oil prices on international markets and refinery problems in California have pushed the price of gasoline higher, according to the AAA’s monthly gasoline price report. The national average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline increased a penny in the last month to 97 cents a gallon, the first increase since October. The current price is still 11.1 cents cheaper than the March 1998 average of $1.081 per gallon. In Southern California, the average price of regular unleaded gas rose to $1.192 from $1.168 in February, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. The average statewide price is $1.216, up from $1.16 in February. California gasoline prices have jumped more than national prices because of the shutdown of the Tosco Corp. oil refinery in Northern California following a Feb. 23 explosion that killed four workers. Problems at another refinery in Benicia contributed to the increase.