Gas prices in the Los Angeles area slipped for the third consecutive week on Friday, but in many cities throughout Southern California, prices began recovering from the brief downturn.

The average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area fell 1.6 cents to $2.506 on Friday. Last Friday, they dipped 4.8 cents to $2.522. The price was $2.606 per gallon one month ago and $2.236 one year prior. Prices haven’t hit a new record high since Sept. 6.

“Gas prices in most areas began heading back up on Monday after dropping for about three weeks,” said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp. “Traditionally, Southern California has experienced gas price spikes during the spring, and oil industry analysts believe this could be the beginning of another one.”

The Orange County area had the lowest average price in Southern California, losing 1.4 cents to $2.467. The Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc area had the highest gas price even with a decrease of 3.6 cents to $2.627.

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline each Friday.