Gasoline prices keep rising in California, U.S.

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Retail fuel prices continued their slow ascent in California and across the nation over the past week, the Energy Department said today.

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in California climbed just 2.8 cents to $2.336, according to the Energy Department’s weekly survey of filling stations. Nationally, the increase was 1.4 cents to $2.051 a gallon.

Since the beginning of the year, the average gas cost has risen 46 cents in California and 36.4 cents nationally on supply constraints.

In addition, some experts say that Americans have cut as much fuel consumption as they can. U.S. driver demand for fuel is holding steady for the first time in several months, they say.

The continuing worldwide recession took its toll on oil prices today. Crude oil futures fell $2.19 a barrel to $50.05 after a report from the International Energy Agency said that global oil demand in 2009 could fall to its lowest level in five years as world economies continue to flounder.

-- Ron White