Inland Empire gas price drops seventh consecutive day

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular  gasoline in the Inland Empire dropped 1 cent Thursday to $4.249, matching the largest daily decrease since Dec. 19, which was set a day earlier.

      The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties has declined  for seven consecutive days and is 4.2 cents less than one week ago and 11.1  cents less than one year ago, but 19.3 cents more than one month ago, according  to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

      The dropping prices are the result of decreasing prices for oil and  gasoline futures caused by an increase in fuel supplies stemming from beefed-up  refinery production, according to Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of  Southern California.