The good thing about the South Sound’s rising gas prices is that they’re still far lower than California’s.

According to the News Tribune’s Gas Deal Finder, local gas prices have risen 1.3 cents a gallon on average since Sunday. That puts the average at $4.11 a gallon, the highest they’ve been since mid-June.

Compared with California averages, which have reached $4.65 a gallon in some locales, our local prices are still reasonable, but still, the state’s gas prices are now fifth highest in the country.

A refinery fire, a pipeline shutdown and a shortage of California’s unique blend of gas is driving up prices there and having a peripheral effect here.

But during a time of year gas prices are usually headed downward because of decreasing demand.