Gasoline prices in Los Angeles and much of Southern California dipped over the past week, but the nine-week decline is likely ending just as the summer driving season kicks off, said the Automobile Club of Southern California.

L.A. gas prices are now just 3 cents higher than year-ago levels.

The average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area dipped 1.2 cents to $2.361 on Friday from $2.373 one week ago. The price was $2.508 per gallon one month ago and $2.319 one year prior, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

“The prices of crude oil and gasoline on the wholesale market have jumped 15 percent in the past two weeks,” said Auto Club spokesperson Paul Gonzales. “Pump prices appear to be at or near their low point. It’s likely that gas prices will rise steadily for the next few weeks.”

The Riverside-San Bernardino area had the lowest average price in Southern California, with $2.349, overtaking the Bakersfield area, which had the cheapest price four Fridays in a row. The price in Bakersfield rose 1.1 cents, the only increase in the areas surveyed, to $2.362. Prices in the Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc area remained the highest at $2.483.

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline as of 12:01 a.m., June 17.