Gas prices in California skyrocket to over $4 a gallon with no end in sight

[ansible]

At one of the busiest intersections in Sherman Oaks, California -- drivers sit bumper-to-bumper, searching for a good deal on a tank of gasoline. They pass one gas station, then another, and then a third -- as they gradually begin to accept the new norm in the Golden State: Fuel is about $4 per gallon.

"It's too high," said Los Angeles resident Keith Adams, as he topped off his small SUV. "Today, it's going to cost me 50 to 60 dollars, and usually it costs me 35-40 bucks." For Adams, who drives across the Los Angeles basin each day, this week's spike means thinking twice before hitting the road. "I have to monetize, and figure out how I need to drive when I'm making these long journeys," he said. "I fill up a lot. I'm going to be extra careful. I may not spend as much time just driving around. I may pull to the side (to handle business)."

This is just the beginning for car-centric California, as prices are expected to continue increasing as Memorial Day weekend approaches. Two major factors play into sudden sticker shock at the pump, says AAA spokesperson Jeanette Casselano. "There's a switch over to a summer blend (of gasoline), which is a more expensive fuel for refineries to produce, and that extra cost is passed along to motorists at the pump," she said.

Concurrently, unplanned -- and planned -- refinery maintenance tightens the number of gasoline stocks available.
"So when stocks are going down, amid a time there's a pretty robust demand, you're going to see gas prices increase," Casselano said. The average price in California stands at $3.87 per gallon of regular-grade gas, creeping up 22 cents from one week ago, according to AAA. The state's average one month ago was just $3.31. Prices in metropolitan areas are even higher. In Los Angeles and Long Beach, drivers are paying about $3.94 per gallon. San Franciscans are forking over close to $3.96. The national average is $2.76 per gallon.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/10/business/california-four-dollar-gas/index.html

[riverine]

1. Gas spiked to over $5/gallon back in 2008

the last time a Republican was POTUS.

[ansible]

2. Yeah but that was nationwide, it's still around $2 a gallon in other states

Something really fucky is going on with gas prices here in California, nobody even knows for sure where that money is going to.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/01/29/a-20-cent-mystery-surcharge-on-gas-california-lawmakers-ask-ag-to-find-out-why/

[Clarity2]

14. I agree with you

I live in NY, where gas tax is about 45 cents gallon, only about 10 c less than you. Gas prices here are right now about 2.50-2.79/gal. I know depending on location on a particular rd (busy vs not) gas suppliers charge more. Not to be all conspiracy theorist, but I wonder if the suppliers are hitting the whole state of cali more? Kind of like the salt tax cap...stick to a blue state...one in this case.

Sounds weird to me.

[DFW]

3. I was in L.A. in 2009

I remember gas was still pretty high there. Of course living in an area where anthing under $7 a gallon is considered cheap, I didn’t really get blown away by it.

[mr_lebowski]

4. There's also all kinds of international shit involved in this ...

Saudi's (Aramco) recent report that, basically, Ghawar is in much deeper decline than anyone suspected, along w/production cuts ... News of increased hostilities in Libya ... Saber-rattling about increasing sanctions on Iran ... Venezuelan sanctions and threat of conflict there ...

It's all part and parcel of TrumPutin's (and the Saudi's) plan to increase crude prices to increase profits. The US shale plays aren't very profitable at $60/bbl, but at $90/bbl? You better believe they are.

It's funny to think back during Obama's time when the RWNJ's were all complaining about how 'Obama/Dem Regulations' were keeping the US from exploiting it's Petroleum resources, and how if Obama would just stop doing what he's doing, we could all have like $1/gal gasoline and be the new Saudi Arabia.

I told all those idiots back then, all that's going to happen is the oil co's will make more money, they're not going to magically let prices fall to $1/gallon, cause then THEY can't make any money. HOW STUPID ARE YOU?!?

They didn't listen. So even though now we as a Nation are producing damn near as much as we consume in the USA (as opposed to 15 years ago when it was only like 55%), gas prices aren't changed all that much.

That's because THE COUNTRY DOESN'T OWN THE OIL, and the GOP-controlled House/Senate repealed the long-standing law against the US exporting Crude (which Obama, to his discredit, signed, admittedly).

Fact is, it's not 'ours', it's Exxon's and BP's and Shell's ... They didn't grasp this simple concept. Kinda like most simple concepts.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Trump and his Donor's

want their cut before the golden Goose goes to Jail.


Rigged Market behavior.

[democratisphere]

6. drumpf and Kushner want to keep the Saudi's and Kremlin happy.

[kacekwl]

7. Summer/winter blend is a crock of BS.

Also refinery maintenance is a fixed cost. Summer and winter come every year. Is there also a spring / fall blend ? If not then when they say summer blend costs more to refine and winter blend costs more to refine what else,is there ? This is the cost of doing business folks nothing more of less. Therefore it is just an excuse to corn hole the customer. Why if drumph has cleared the way for drilling and fracking and pipelines everywhere by removing those pesky regulations and as HE says we are producing more oil than anyone are gas prices up close to a dollar a gallon more in a year or less where I am. Could it be more drumph bullshit or are we Americans getting screwed ?

[BBG]

11. Google is your friend

There are reasons behind the seasonal differences in gas blends. For your edification -
https://newsroom.aaa.com/2013/06/what-is-the-difference-between-summer-and-winter-blend-gasoline/

[Joe941]

8. We really need $10 gas to help save the environment.

[Blue_true]

9. People could try not owning SUVs and big pickups.

I own a sedan and have owned that type of vehicle for a while. I barely notice $3.75 a gallon for gas. The contrary, less than $2 irritates me because I normally prepay to avoid using my debit card at pumps, so I end up having to go back in for a refund when my tank fills up, that takes time that I don't want to spend that way.

[CurtEastPoint]

10. In Ireland last week: 1.40 euros/litre, or roughly $6/gallon

[OnDoutside]

13. It was 1.46 in my local station today.

[safeinOhio]

12. A lot of it, I call the Putin Saudi tax.

As for California tax, just be glad your roads aren't as bad as Michigan's. I'd pay a buck more for better roads.