California gas prices ‘shaping up to be the highest on record.’ What you’ll pay

Gas prices are climbing across the country as ongoing tensions involving the United States and Iran continue to put pressure on global oil markets.

Read more California gas prices ‘shaping up to be the highest on record.’ What you’ll pay

California drivers are feeling the increase at the pump, with prices reaching their highest level ever recorded for this time of the year, according to AAA.

“This August is shaping up to be the highest on record,” AAA said in a Thursday, Aug. 20, news release.

Though gasoline demand typically drops this time of year, fuel experts said, higher crude oil prices and disruptions to global refining capacity are driving up costs at the pump.

Here’s what California drivers can expect to pay:

What are current gas prices in California?

Gas prices have risen across much of the country over the past week, according to GasBuddy.

“Average gasoline prices moved higher in the majority of states over the last week, with fewer than 10 states seeing declines,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a Monday, Aug. 24, news release.

Meanwhile, diesel “surged nearly 17 cents per gallon nationally, leaving it less than 25 cents away from an all-time record high,” De Haan said.

In California, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached about $5.62 on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

That is roughly $1.52 more than the national average of $4.10 per gallon.

California gas prices have increased by about 5 cents per gallon over the past week, according to AAA.

“Gasoline, while not at all-time records, is at its highest level ever recorded this late in the calendar year,” De Haan said. “Americans could for the first time ever see a national average price of gasoline above $4 per gallon on Labor Day—eclipsing the previous record of $3.83 per gallon set in 2012.”

California recorded its highest-ever gas prices in June 2022, when a gallon of regular gasoline retailed for $6.44 on average.

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Diesel prices hit a record $7.75 per gallon on April 9.

How much does gas cost in my California city?

As of Tuesday, Aug. 25, these were the average per-gallon prices for regular gas at metropolitan areas around California:

• Bakersfield: $5.66 per gallon
• Chico-Paradise: $5.37
• El Centro: $5.37
• Fresno: $5.56
• Hanford-Corcoran: $5.50
• Los Angeles-Long Beach: $5.69
• Madera-Chowchila: $5.62
• Merced: $5.52
• Modesto: $5.42
• Napa: $5.74
• Oakland: $5.62
• Orange County: $5.65
• Redding: $5.43
• Riverside: $5.57
• Sacramento: $5.54
• Salinas: $5.74
• San Bernardino: $5.59
• San Diego: $5.73
• San Francisco: $5.74
• San Jose: $5.57
• San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $5.87
• San Rafael: $5.71
• Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $5.68
• Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $5.60
• Santa Rosa: $5.78
• Stockton-Lodi: $5.43
• Vallejo-Fairfield: $5.49
• Ventura: $5.60
• Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $5.52
• Yolo: $5.50
• Yuba City: $5.31

Why are gas prices so high right now?

Even though gasoline demand typically drops toward the end of summer, fuel experts said, it hasn’t been enough to offset higher oil prices.

According to AAA, crude oil prices are putting upward pressure on gasoline prices, with continued instability in the Strait of Hormuz contributing to concerns about global oil supplies.

The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows crude oil prices remaining around $80 per barrel.

“While some oil shipments are apparently getting through the Strait of Hormuz, the dominant force propping up both gasoline and diesel prices is increasingly the growing loss of Russian refinery capacity, as continued Ukrainian attacks knock more facilities offline and constrain the global supply of refined fuels,” De Haan said. “Until that refining supply picture improves, both gasoline and diesel prices face continued upward pressure.”

Find cheapest gas stations near me

GasBuddy is designed to help motorists find the cheapest gas prices in their areas.

You can search for the most affordable gas stations in your area on the GasBuddy website.