Record-Breaking CA Gas Prices, Highest In Nation, Strike Again

LOS ANGELES, CA — Some California drivers are experiencing a bit of sticker shock as gasoline prices reached record highs, according to AAA.

Data provided on AAA's website showed all-time-high prices were set Monday for a gallon of regular gas in San Bernardino, Orange County and Ventura. Los Angeles set a new record Sunday at $4.74.

In the Bay Area, San Francisco saw near-record gas prices at $4.82 per gallon, or 7 cents below the record. San Jose drivers fared a little better at $4.74, but not quite as low as Sacramento, where gas was $4.62.

On Monday, AAA said the state's average gasoline price remained near record-highs, sitting at $4.68 for regular. That's $1.24 more than the national average of $3.44 per gallon and just 3 cents below the state's highest recorded average price of $4.71, which was set Nov. 27.

"Refineries began shipping out the more expensive ‘summer blend’ of gasoline to Southern California gas pipelines on Monday, while oil prices have climbed by more than $10 a barrel in the past month due to world tensions and OPEC concerns," Auto Club spokesman Doug Shupe said in a statement to media outlets. “If the upward pressure for gas prices continues, we could see new record prices in all Southern California areas in the next couple of weeks.”

Pain At California Pumps

Here are the average gas prices for major California metros, as of Monday.

Bakersfield: $4.62 (record price: $4.67)

Chico-Paradise: $4.44 (record: $4.60)

El Centro: $4.52 (record: $4.66)

Fresno: $4.52 (record: $4.64)

Hanford-Corcoran: $4.38 (record: $4.61)

Los Angeles-Long Beach: $4.74 (record: $4.74)

Madera-Chowchilla: $4.48 (record: $4.66)

Merced: $4.54 (record: $4.71)

Modesto: $4.42 (record: $4.62)

Napa: $4.89 (record: $4.90)

Oakland: $4.72 (record: $4.79)

Orange County: $4.72 (record: $4.72)

Redding: $4.62 (record: $4.68)

Riverside: $4.65 (record: $4.69)

Sacramento: $4.62 (record: $4.73)

Salinas: $4.77 (record: $4.801)

San Bernardino: $4.69 (record: $4.69)

San Diego: $4.68 (record: $4.73)

San Francisco: $4.82 (record: $4.89)

San Jose: $4.74 (record: $4.81)

San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles: $4.87 (record: $4.88)

San Rafael: $4.74 (record: $4.90)

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc: $4.66 (record: $4.71)

Santa Cruz-Watsonville: $4.70 (record: $4.78)

Santa Rosa: $4.82 (record: $4.88)

Stockton-Lodi: $4.54 (record: $4.68)

Vallejo-Fairfield: $4.64 (record: $4.73)

Ventura: $4.73 (record: $4.73)

Visalia-Tulare-Porterville: $4.58 (record: $4.69)

Yolo: $4.60 (record: $4.70)

Yuba City: $4.44 (record: $4.60)

United States Sees Record Gas Prices

AAA blamed blustery winter weather and geopolitical tensions between the United States and Russia for surging oil prices, which were in the low-$90s per barrel. That's nearly $30 higher than in August.

Gasoline across the country was 14 cents more than a month ago and 98 cents more than a year ago, AAA said in a news release.

Bitter cold temperatures across the country led more people to use heating oil, compounded by upward pricing pressure due to fears Russia could react to potential sanctions by withholding crude oil from an already thin global market. The external forces sent the national average for a gallon of gas up 8 cents from more than a week ago.

Americans haven't seen gas this expensive since 2014.

“This shows how events on the other side of the globe can have a noticeable impact right here in the U.S,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “And unfortunately for drivers, they are reminded of this by higher prices at the pump.”

California continues to see the highest price for gas in the nation, followed by Hawaii ($4.40), Washington ($3.95), Oregon ($3.93) and Nevada ($3.86).

The states with the lowest average gas prices were concentrated in the South. Mississippi had the lowest in the nation at $3.09, followed by Arkansas ($3.10), Texas ($3.11), Oklahoma ($3.11) and Missouri ($3.11).