Inland Empire gas price drops for 9th straight day

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire dropped today for the ninth consecutive day, decreasing 1 cent to $2.765, after rising nine times in 11 days.

The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties has decreased 6.7 cents over the past nine days, including 1.3 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The average price rose 7.3 cents during the 11-day stretch of increases.

The average price is 5.1 cents less than both a week ago and a year ago and unchanged from one month ago.

The dropping prices likely are a result of the Nov. 1 switch to winter blend gasoline, which is cheaper to produce, and the fact supplies are adequate to meet demand, Marie Montgomery of the Automobile Club of Southern California told City News Service.