1 hour ago
3
California drivers are paying about $5.50 a gallon at the pump, up about 3 cents since yesterday, making it one of the highest averages in the nation.
Gas prices in Oakland and San Francisco are sitting at $5.60 a gallon right now. That’s a bit higher than the $5.38 people are paying in Los Angeles.
Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog blamed both state policies and the international turmoil, saying taxes, environmental regulations and refinery constraints are just as responsible as crude-market disruptions for the sticker shock.
The group noted that California gas prices are around $2 above the US average, highlighting the burden on local communities.
Consumer Watchdog’s five proposed fixes:
- Use the California Energy Commission’s existing powers to enforce steady fuel supply.
- Require refiners to maintain minimum inventories to prevent shortages from triggering price spikes.
- Increase transparency on why current gasoline stocks aren’t easing pump prices.
- Reinstate price-gouging penalties for excessive profits during price spikes.
- Expand pipelines and infrastructure to bring in more gasoline and boost competition.
According to the group, these steps could help narrow the gap between California gas prices and the national average while accounting for global crude costs.
The Golden State continues to be the nation’s most expensive state for gasoline, driven by a combination of taxes, special fuel-blend requirements and regulatory policies.
It comes after desperate Californians revealed they were trying to no longer drive in a bid to save cash while the pumps continue to rocket.
Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter
California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
Thanks for signing up!
“Gas right now is literally your arm and my leg,” Amber Arias, a frequent commuter, told KCRA3. “It’s a back and forth, so yeah, it’s crazy.
“I’m out here today because my mom had an appointment at Sutter downtown, and gas prices are extremely insane. It’s really hurting families. It’s really hurting our economy.”
“This is a pretty cheap area. I’d say a week ago it was under $4, so it’s definitely dramatically changed pretty quickly,” driver Dakota Angelo told the local station.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
The rising prices have led some drivers to take more public transit, while others are turning to apps like GasBuddy to find cheaper fuel.
“They’ve looked at how a 10% increase in gas prices can correlate to about a 1 to 2% increase in transit ridership,” a spokesperson for Sacramento Regional Transit said.
It’s not just car drivers who are feeling the strain. Even motorcycle owners, who typically spend significantly less on fuel, say they are being affected.
One motorcyclist said he hasn’t been going out as much as he used to or taking longer trips because he’s trying to save money.
English (US)