RIVERSIDE – Gas prices in the Inland Empire dropped a nickel in the last week, to $4.528 a gallon, as prices dropped ever-so-slightly for the third straight week, the Automobile Club of Southern California reports Saturday.

“Gas prices have dropped about half a penny a day in most areas last week,” said spokesperson Jeffrey Spring. This week's average is down about 4.3 cents from the record high level for Riverside and San Bernardino counties set in late June, the Auto Club said.

A gallon of unleaded retails for $4.564 in Los Angeles County this weekend, and $4.524 in Orange County, the survey found. That's down 3.3 cents in the last week in L.A. and down 3.5 cents in Orange County, the Triple-A affiliate said.

And in San Diego County, the average price is $4.526 per gallon, down 10 cents from last week.

“Often when prices hover at near-record levels as they are now, we see averages that are very similar in different areas,” he said. “The difference between the lowest and the highest gas price averages in Southern California is less than 10 cents right now.”

And in Las Vegas, where gas formulations are different and the local wholesale market more competitive, a gallon of Nevada gas costs $4.233, the Auto Club reported.