Ever since gas prices starting plummeting on February 24, a penny-by-penny gas war has been going on at two Escondido gas stations on 5th Avenue at Centre City Parkway. The two have been leading the county’s dropping prices.

On April 6, at 3:30 p.m., the C Stop station became the first station in Southern California to drop below $2.00 a gallon, posting a price of $1.999 (regular, cash price). That evening, the owner of US Gas dropped her price to $1.989.

Joyce, the owner of US Gas, says she’s always a penny lower than her neighbor C Stop across the street. “They just beat me to it,” she said.

An employee at C Stop said their low price might not hold. But Joyce at US Gas, with 30 years in business at her location, says she expects gas prices to go lower.

“[Gas price] continues to fall as every state has seen yet another decline in average gas prices over the last week as overall oil demand remains constrained due to COVID-19,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.www.gasbuddy.com/go/gas-price-report-april-6-2020/ DeHaan posted that we’re seeing the lowest gas prices since 2003.

The US Gas price is some 30 – 50 cents lower than the lowest prices posted in Orange, LA, San Bernardino, or Riverside Counties.