Are you experiencing sticker shock at the pump? Gas prices across California are skyrocketing compared to the national average.
Prices in California averaged $5.35 a gallon Monday, compared to the national average of $3.59.
In the Los Angeles-Long Beach metro area, a gallon of self-serve gas costs on average a few cents less than in the rest of the state: $5.32. Still, that’s up 17 cents from last week and 39 cents from last month, according to the American Automobile Assn.
Gas prices are rising nationwide, according to the AAA survey, but not as fast as in California. The average price of regular gasoline is up 6 cents from last week and 20 cents from the previous month, according to AAA.
A tight oil market, due in part to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and production cuts in other countries, will keep fuel prices above average, according to projections from the Energy Information Administration. UNITED STATES.
The federal agency’s global forecasts for oil balance sheets and their effect on U.S. crude prices remain uncertain. Although events such as attacks on ships in the Red Sea have not yet harmed oil production, according to the EIA, production could “still be disrupted or some oil production in the Middle East could be discontinued, which would likely lead to higher oil prices.” increase.”
Another factor is the war between Russia and Ukraine. In recent months, Russian refineries and oil terminals have become priority targets for Ukrainian drone attacks.
“Uncertainty (over) the impact of Ukraine’s targeting of Russian oil infrastructure has likely driven up oil prices recently,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a March statement . “But those concerns have eased somewhat for now, and gas prices are settling into a similar trend to last year, when the usual seasonal increase was slow and steady.”
Historically, gasoline prices tend to gradually increase in the spring and peak in late summer, when people drive more frequently, according to the EIA.
Prices in California are also affected by switching to a different fuel blend in hot weather. Environmental regulators require gasoline sold in summer to be less susceptible to evaporation. This requirement forces refiners to replace cheaper but more evaporative gas components with those that have the opposite characteristics, the federal agency said.
Other areas of Southern California have seen eye-popping price increases. In the San Diego metro area, the average price for a gallon is $5.29, up 16 cents from last week, and in Riverside it is $5.24, up 21 cents.
But you don’t have to pay the highest possible price to fill your tank.
How to find cheaper gas
There are several apps and websites that can help you find lower prices near your travel route.
- The Auto Club app for AAA members shows the closest gas stations that charge the lowest amount, anywhere in the United States.
- In its application and on its website, Gasbuddy displays pump prices in real time near you.
- The Gas Guru app can search for gas stations by price, fuel quality and distance, as well as display prices in your area.
- Mapquest, Google Maps, and Waze have a feature that lets you see gas prices along the route of your trip.
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