San Diego County drivers are paying some of the highest gas prices in the nation, with the average cost of a gallon of self-serve regular climbing to $5.533 Saturday — its highest level since Oct. 25, 2023, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.
The county’s rising prices reflect a statewide trend: California consistently has the nation’s highest gas prices, in part because most of the state’s gasoline is refined from foreign crude. The average in San Diego has increased for 24 consecutive days, jumping 92.6 cents during that stretch, including 5.1 cents Friday, according to AAA and OPIS.
Prices are now 38.7 cents higher than a week ago, 93 cents more than a month ago and 85 cents higher than one year ago. Even with the recent surge, the average price remains 90.2 cents below the record $6.435 set on Oct. 5, 2022.
Gas prices had been rising modestly in line with seasonal trends before the joint U.S./Israel attack on Iran on Feb. 28 pushed oil prices higher and sharply accelerated increases at the pump.
“Oil prices spiked over $100 a barrel on Monday and continue to be volatile as this conflict continues,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, said in a statement Thursday. “California has experienced much higher price increases than other states because the majority of the state’s gasoline is refined from foreign crude oil sources.”
The national average price also rose Saturday, increasing 4.5 cents to $3.675, its highest level since April 22, 2024. The national average has climbed for 14 consecutive days, rising 69.3 cents during that period, including 3.2 cents Friday. It is 26.2 cents higher than a week ago, 74.5 cents more than a month ago and 59.2 cents higher than one year ago. Despite the recent increases, the national average remains $1.341 below the record $5.016 set on June 14, 2022.
“Crude oil prices play a major role in what drivers pay at the pump, and prices have surpassed the $100/barrel mark multiple times in recent days,” the AAA said Thursday. “To help offset rising prices, the U.S. announced it will release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves over four months. The move is part of a broader effort by the International Energy Agency to release a total of 400 million barrels of oil, the largest emergency release in its history.”
–City News contributed to this report
