LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County was unchanged Monday at $4.851, one day after dropping two-tenths of a cent.

The average price is 2.4 cents less than one week ago and $1.218 lower than one year ago but nine-tenths of a cent more than one month ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has dropped $1.643 since rising to a record $6.494 on Oct. 5.

The Orange County average price dropped three-tenths of a cent Monday to $4.802, a day after rising one-tenth of a cent and two days after a 16-day streak of decreases totaling 13.3 cents ended. It is 2.2 cents less than one week ago, unchanged from a month ago and $1.222 lower than one year ago.

The Orange County average price has dropped $1.657 since rising to a record $6.459 on Oct. 5.

The national average price was unchanged at $3.439, a day after dropping one-tenth of a cent. It is four-tenths of a cent less than one week ago and 80.5 cents lower than one year ago, but 7.4 cents more than one month ago.

The national average price has decreased $1.577 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14.

Gas demand surged last week as drivers took advantage of better driving weather, but fears of a recession caused global oil prices to hover near $70 a barrel, mitigating a rise in gas prices, according to Andrew Gross, an AAA national public relations manager.

“We may be seeing a return to seasonal trends in demand with warmer weather and longer days, but waffling oil prices could mitigate any increase at the pump for now,” Gross said.