The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular  gasoline in the Inland Empire fell 3 cents today to $4.542, the largest drop in  11 consecutive days of declines.
      The average price in Riverside and San Bernardino counties has dropped  14.6 cents over the past 11 days, including 2.7 cents on Thursday, after rising  52.4 cents over the previous six days to a record high of $4.688, according to  figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
      The average price is 12.1 cents less than one week ago, but 42.4 cents  more than one month ago and 68.7 cents higher than one year ago.
      "Oil industry analysts reported significant drops in the wholesale  market on Wednesday which, if they hold, should bring prices well below $4 a  gallon," Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California said.
      "The only question is how quickly that will happen."