The average price of regular unleaded gas in California has decreased to $5.83 per gallon, down from $6.08 a week ago, according to AAA. This drop in gas prices can be attributed to wholesale gas prices decreasing nationwide, with drops of 6.9% and 10.8% per gallon, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Severe flooding and rain on the East Coast also influenced the demand for gas, deterring many drivers. Despite the price drop, drivers in Southern California are still paying more for gas compared to their counterparts in Northern California. Counties such as San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and San Diego continue to have the most expensive gas prices in the state, with motorists paying an average of $6.04, $6.03, and $6.01 per gallon, respectively.
In Southern California, other counties with prices higher than the state average include Ventura, Santa Barbara, Riverside, and Orange, where drivers are paying $5.99, $5.97, $5.87, and $5.87 per gallon, respectively. On the other hand, Kern and Imperial County residents are paying slightly less for gas, with prices averaging around $5.79 and $5.81 per gallon. In Northern and Central California, gas prices are considerably cheaper. Calaveras County residents, for example, pay 53 cents less per gallon ($5.51) compared to San Luis Obispo residents. Other counties with cheaper gas prices include Yuba, Colusa, Fresno, and Shasta, where prices range from $5.52 to $5.56 per gallon. Despite the decrease, California’s average gas price of $5.83 is still more than $2 higher than the national median price of $3.72.
