U.S. drivers will spend $1.4 billion on gasoline over Memorial Day

The Union of Concerned Scientists says that Americans will spend $1.4 billion on gasoline this Memorial Day weekend. Californians will see average gasoline prices of over $4 a gallon.

By Ronald D. White

May 23, 2013 11:45 AM PT

Get ready for an expensive three-day weekend behind the wheel.

The Union of Concerned Scientists says that Americans will spend about $1.4 billion on gasoline over the course of the Memorial Day holiday.

Among those paying the most will be California drivers.

PHOTOS: Top 10 cars with the lowest sticker price per mpg

The state’s gasoline prices are drifting lower again but are likely to remain above $4 a gallon in most parts of Southern California over the long Memorial Day weekend, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Compared with last year, California drivers will be paying “about $4 less for a 15 gallon fill-up than they did” in 2012, according to Auto Club spokesman Jeff Spring.

There are relative bargains out there, however, according to GasBuddy.com and the Oil Price Information Service, such as $3.83 for a gallon of regular at the Shell station on South Western Avenue at West Pico Boulevard.

In Ontario, the American Gas & Food at South Euclid Avenue and West Philadelphia Street is charging just $3.73 a gallon.

The California average for a gallon of regular gasoline Thursday is $4.05 a gallon, or 1.1 cents lower than last week, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $4.081 per gallon, which is 1.4 cents more than last week, 13 cents higher than last month, and 27 cents lower than last year.

In San Diego, the average price is $4.045, which is 2 cents below last week, 12 cents above last month, and 28 cents lower than last year.

On the Central Coast, the average price is $4.123, down nine-tenths of a cent from last week, 9 cents higher than a month ago, and 25 cents less than last year.

In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $4.035, down 1.1 cents from last week, 10 cents higher than last month, and 29 cents less than last year.

ALSO:

Pickup truck surge powers strong May auto sales

Chevy Spark EV lease highlights electric car price cuts

With its U.S. market share surging, Ford ramps up its production