L.A. gasoline prices continued slipping, but the 12-week-long trend of lower gasoline prices may be ending for Southern California motorists as most areas in the region experienced only small decreases at the pump this week, said the Automobile Club of Southern California.

The average price for regular self-serve unleaded gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area fell 2 cents to $2.263 on Friday from $2.283 one week ago. The price was $2.504 per gallon one month ago and $2.077 one year prior. Prices haven’t hit a new record high since Sept. 6.

“Prices have fallen 25 percent since their record highs in September,” Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp said. “After the New Year, motorists can expect prices to begin rising as refineries cut back production to conduct their annual maintenance and begin the process of producing the summer blend of gas, which must be completed by the end of February.”

The Orange County area had the lowest average price in Southern California, dipping 1.4 cents to $2.231. The Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc area had the highest gas price, dropping 2.2 cents to $2.416.

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