L.A. Gas Prices Top $3 per Gallon

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The average gallon of self-serve regular in the Los Angeles area soared 23.2 cents to $3.004 for the week ended Sept. 5 after Gulf Coast petroleum operations were disrupted in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, sending per-gallon prices across the country to swell above the $3-mark.


The week’s jump brings L.A. prices 92.2 cents higher than they were a year ago and far above the previous week’s $2.772, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. A week ago, L.A. prices rose just six-tenths of a cent to $2.772, a slowdown after weeks of gradual increases.


Statewide, prices gained 28.6 cents to $3.056 from $2.770 over the week, 98.3 cents higher than year-ago rates. Still, California was finally out-priced as the state with the highest gas prices in the nation by New York, which rose 69.9 cents to $3.369 to grab the top spot, and Massachusetts, which surged 61.5 cents to $3.219 for second place.


In the aftermath of the hurricane, San Francisco was soundly beaten by New York City as the priciest city in the nation, rising 66.7 cents to $3.276. Boston was next on the list, jumping 60.1 cents to $3.207. San Francisco had to settle for fifth place, rising just 23.1 cents to $3.039. Los Angeles tied with Miami for seventh place out of the 10 areas surveyed.


Minnesota was the lowest-priced state, at $2.864 per gallon, and the city with cheapest gas was Seattle, which gained 16.3 cents to $2.878 per gallon.

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