Gas nearly 2 bucks a gallon more than a year ago.

(Los Angeles, CA) — It’s now four straight days that Los Angeles County’s gasoline prices have fallen. The Automobile Club of Southern California says the current local average cost of a gallon of self-serve regular is $6.41. That’s a nickel lower than last week’s average but a dollar-six more than last month’s price at the pump. It’s also nearly 2 bucks–a $1.98 higher than one year ago. The local average price increased $1.25 during a 33-day streak of increases that came to an end Thursday. The record high in L.A. County for a gallon of gas is $6.49 set last Wednesday. Triple “A” spokesman Doug Shupe says, “We’re starting to see pump prices move lower because refineries that were undergoing maintenance are coming back online.” Shupe adds, “Winter-blend fuel, which is cheaper to produce, will enter the market sooner than November 1st.”. One factor that may play a role is the Governor’s insistence on a “windfall profits tax” on energy producers, that he blames for the high prices. Newsom has even called for a special session of the legislature–in December after election day– to address this but steadfastly refuses to drop the state gas tax that costs taxpayers more than 50 cents a gallon.