Palm Springs Gas Prices March Upward With Middle East Conflict

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in the Inland Empire rose on Monday to its highest amount since Oct. 7, 2008, increasing to $3.56 per gallon.

The 18th increase in 19 days pushed the average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties 11.4 cents higher than a week ago, 19.8 cents above what it was one month ago and 59.4 cents greater than it was one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The increased pump prices are the result of rising prices for imported crude oil, the type used by California refineries, according to Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Imported oil prices are rising because of concerns about worldwide inflation and unrest in the Middle East, Spring said.

Crude oil costs account for two-thirds to three-quarters of the price of a gallon of gasoline, according to Tupper Hull, vice president of strategic communications for the Western States Petroleum Association, a trade association representing oil companies in six western states.