Gas prices kept up their slow descent in Los Angeles, slipping nearly 4 cents a gallon last week, according to data from the federal Energy Information Administration.

The average gallon of self-serve regular in the Los Angeles area was $2.476 for the week ended May 16, down from $2.515 the previous week. L.A. gas prices are about 17 cents higher per gallon than they were one year ago.

Statewide gas prices dropped nearly 4 cents per gallon in the past week averaging $2.473 per gallon for the week ended May 16, but they are still nearly 20 cents higher than one year ago.

California remained the most expensive state in which to buy a gallon of gas, and San Francisco was the most expensive city, out-pricing Los Angeles for the seventh straight week with an average cost of $ 2.564 per gallon.