EMERYVILLE >> Despite lower crude costs nationally, prices in California have slightly increased due to ongoing maintenance of refineries on the West Coast, hitting $3 per gallon this week. This represents a 1 cent increase from a week ago.
The average price of California unleaded regular gas is up 12 cents from a month ago and is 41 cents higher than a year ago. The average rate is the second highest in the nation, with only Hawaii having a higher price of $3.07.
Northern California’s average price for regular gasoline is $2.95, up 15 cents from a month ago. Of the Northern California cities surveyed by AAA as a service to consumers, Marysville posted the lowest price at $2.71 and South Lake Tahoe has the highest average at $3.23.
“Gas prices in California are the highest they’ve been in nearly five years,” said John Moreno, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “While national gas prices are declining, on the west coast, refinery maintenance and the process of switching to summer-blend gasoline is continuing to have an impact on prices.”
While prices in California continue to climb, the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has seen declining prices for more than a week, resting at $2.29. Though consumers are still paying 36 cents more than they were a year ago. Experts predict that gas prices may continue to drop in the near future due to declining crude oil prices and a well-supplied market, but will begin to creep up again due to seasonal refinery maintenance and the upcoming conversion to summer-blend gasoline.
