National gas prices lowest since October. Check your California county’s average

The national pump price for a gallon of regular gas dipped another 4 cents in one week to $3.35 — and currently sits at $3.34, the lowest price consumers have seen at the pump since Oct. 20.

Shortly after news broke last week of the COVID-19 omicron variant detected in a San Francisco resident returning home from international travel, the national average dropped to $3.39.

Now it is about 7 cents less than just one month ago and $1.19 more than a year ago, according to an American Automotive Association news release.

California regular gasoline prices follow the same trend.

After breaking record after record for highest pump cost, the regular gas price hasn’t been more than $4.71 since Nov. 27 — one day after omicron was detected — and four days before the variant was confirmed in California.

As of Tuesday, the current average price in the state is $4.68, less than a 1-cent drop from about a week ago and closer to where it sat one month ago.

But it’s $1.50 more than 2020, which saw record low prices.

In Sacramento, the regular gas price has dropped since the Nov. 29 record average of $4.72. As of Tuesday, the average regular price is $4.69, less than a penny down from last month’s average but $1.52 more than it was one year ago.

These patterns follow in several California areas: Bakersfield, Chico-Paradise, Fresno, Los Angeles - Long Beach, Santa Cruz - Watsonville, Stockton - Lodi, Ventura, Visalia - Porterville and Yolo.

Yolo’s highest recorded average of $4.69 hasn’t been broken since Nov. 30 and its current gas price average is $4.64. Fresno’s price of $4.63 hasn’t been broken since Saturday and its current gas price is $4.60.

The data used in this interactive map, collected from AAA, was last updated Tuesday. Here are the regular gas prices in California by county. See where you land:

Here’s how these California areas compare, according to AAA:

BAKERSFIELD

Highest gas average: $4.66 on Nov. 29

Current gas price average: $4.64

CHICO - PARADISE

Highest gas average: $4.59 on Nov. 28

Current gas price average: $4.55

LOS ANGELES - LONG BEACH

Highest gas average: $4.71 on Nov. 27

Current gas price average: $4.68

SANTA CRUZ - WATSONVILLE

Highest gas average: $4.77 on Nov. 27

Current gas price average: $4.74

MODESTO

Highest gas average: $4.62 on Nov. 29

Current gas price average: $4.58

STOCKTON - LODI

Highest gas average: $4.68 on Nov. 27

Current gas price average: $4.64

VENTURA

Highest gas average: $4.70 on Nov. 30

Current gas price average: $4.67

VISALIA - PORTERVILLE

Highest gas average: $4.68 on Nov. 26

Current gas price average: $4.64

But even though Californians have caught a break at the pump, the state still ranks No. 1 out of 10 most expensive markets with Hawaii, $4.34, Nevada, $3.91, and Washington, $3.87, trailing behind.

Indiana saw the nation’s largest monthly dip of 21 cents with Michigan, 18 cents, Ohio, 17 cents and Washington D.C., 15 cents, trailing behind.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our California Utility Team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email utilityteam@sacbee.com.