Fuel prices in California continue to soar, with some gas stations displaying figures near a staggering $7 per gallon for regular gasoline this week.
Fox News reported spotting prices as high as $6.89 for a gallon of regular gas in Southern California.
Meanwhile, supreme and diesel prices at the same location climbed even higher, fetching $7.19 and $7.29 respectively.
As of Thursday, the AAA data indicates that California’s average gas price is an unprecedented $6.032 per gallon, the steepest in the entire country.
In stark contrast, the national average stands at $3.835, while Mississippi enjoys the nation’s lowest state average of $3.255 per gallon.
Andy Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates, attributes this sharp increase in prices to a slew of refinery outages.
Speaking to FOX Business, Lipow cited several disruptions, beginning with Hurricane Hilary’s power outages and extending to issues with Chevron refineries in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
Planned maintenance work has also led to the temporary closure of several gasoline-producing units at the PBF Torrance refinery.
The California Energy Commission underscores the state’s dependence on its in-state refineries, noting that 90% of the gasoline consumed within California is locally refined.
As a consequence, any unexpected shutdowns or problems at these refineries directly translate into price hikes at the gas pumps for consumers.
As Californians grapple with these escalating fuel costs, concerns continue to grow around the broader economic implications of such pricing trends and their potential impact on daily living expenses and transportation choices.
RELATED: Biden Doubles Down on Making Oil and Gas Prices More Costly: Restricts Drilling
