Gas prices dropped by more than a penny a day in Southern California in the last week, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $2.864, which is 8.1 cents cheaper than last week, 26 cents below last month, and 37 cents under last year. In San Diego, the price is $2.894, which is 8.2 cents below last week's price, 24 cents under last month, and 36 cents cheaper than last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.085, down 7.7 cents from last week, 24 cents under last month, and 32 cents below last year. In the Inland Empire, the average price is $2.847, 8 cents below last week, 26 cents under last month, and 42 cents cheaper than last year.

"Gas prices in most Southern California cities are 30 to 40 cents lower than they were at this time last year and 60 to 70 cents less than the record prices in May, which will help many vacationers' budgets," said Auto Club spokesperson Carol Thorp.