Gas prices in California climb another 12 cents since yesterday. Where can you get the cheapest gas?
California's average reached $5.69 a gallon Thursday.
Gas prices in California on Thursday reached another new record high for the nation, climbing to an average of $5.69 a gallon for regular unleaded fuel.
Meanwhile, the national average soared to $4.31 a gallon, with drivers paying nearly a dollar more than they did a month ago.
Gas prices surged from $5.57 a gallon Wednesday to $5.69 Thursday across California. In San Francisco, the average went from $5.68 to $5.82. Similar increases were seen around the Bay Area, with average prices going from $5.59 to $5.72 in San Jose, $5.64 to $5.76 in Oakland, $5.5 to $5.61 in Santa Cruz/Watsonville and $5.77 to $5.91 a gallon in San Rafael.
Some of the cheapest gas prices are located in San Jose’s east side, in addition to other areas in the South Bay and East Bay, according to a map of Bay Area prices from GasBuddy. Two separate gas stations called Moe’s Stop were offering regular fuel at $4.99 a gallon and $5.09 a gallon Thursday in San Jose. Meanwhile, a station in Oakland’s Fruitvale District was selling gas at $4.89 a gallon while gas prices hovered around $5.19 in San Leandro and Milpitas. Some of the highest prices were located in San Francisco and along the Peninsula, with one station charging $5.99 a gallon.
National prices spiked past the $4 per gallon mark Saturday and on Tuesday, it surpassed the record high of $4.103, a record set in 2008. Gas prices have increased significantly due to sanctions on Russian commodities during the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden announced Tuesday a ban on Russian oil imports as the invasion continues to drive prices up.
“This is a milestone that was hard to imagine happening so quickly, but with bipartisan support of severe sanctions on Russia, is not exactly surprising — it is the cost of choking off Russia from energy revenue,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “As Russia’s war on Ukraine continues to evolve and we head into a season where gas prices typically increase, Americans should prepare to pay more for gas than they ever have before.”
Californians are paying the highest prices to fuel up, due to high gas taxes and environmental regulations for battling climate change and repairing bridges and roadways. Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed financial relief to try to help with surging gas prices, but few details were released on how much or when state money could go to motorists.
Experts have offered some tips to try and save fuel in the wake of surging prices. According to AAA:
- Slow down and go easy on the brake. Speeding wastes fuel, and so does hard braking and acceleration.
- Clear out your trunk. Carrying heavy items reduces fuel mileage.
- Avoid idling, if you can.
- Inflate your tires to the proper air pressure.
- Consolidate trips and drive less. Use the most fuel-efficient car in your household to run errands.
