The average price of gas in California has skyrocketed in recent weeks, and is flirting with the dreaded $5 mark.
According to AAA, the average price of regular gas in California was $4.84 on Saturday. That number was up about 25 cents from last Saturday and 44 cents from one month ago.
The 44 cent rise in one month comes as refineries begin their transition to summer blends of fuel, AAA said. Other causes could be do to a major refinery being offline in Northern California and routine matinence.
Still, the Feb. 15 average in California is about 19 cents higher than it was in 2024 ($4.64).
The national average rose about 8 cents in the last month.
Last year, the California Air Resources Board approved a measure to lower the carbon intensity in fuels as the state attempts to move away from dependence on fossil fuels. CARB at the time noted that the move was likely to raise prices in the state.
Now, due to a combination of those and other factors, Californians are experiencing higher prices at the pump.
The average differentiates in different metro areas. They include:
- $4.77 in Los Angeles-Long Beach
- $4.645 in Bakersfield
- $4.75 in Orange County
- $4.66 in Riverside
- $4.66 in San Bernardino
- $4.74 in Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc
- $4.78 in Ventura
According to AAA, California currently has the highest average in the country, a title the state usually competes for with Hawaii.
