Driven by refinery output problems, gasoline prices rose dramatically in Southern California this week, the Automobile Club of Southern California reported Friday.

The average price rose by almost 10 cents per gallon this week in the area, with the average price of a gallon of unleaded self- serve regular at 2.597 dollars a gallon in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area Friday, 9.7 cents higher than last week, 11 cents more than last month and 34 cents more than at this time last year, according to the Auto Club.

Prices have now risen for two consecutive weeks. The average price per gallon rose 3 cents from Dec. 8-15 after falling 1.9 cents from Dec. 1-8 and being unchanged from Nov. 22 - Dec. 1.

"For at least the past six years, gas prices have typically been on the decline at this time of year, partly because demand is lower," Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp said.

"But lower production levels at California refineries in the past month pushed wholesale gas prices sharply upward around Thanksgiving, and now that increase has been passed on to consumers."

The Auto Club provided this breakdown of gasoline prices in the region.

Source: Xinhua