California Gas Prices Drop

Motorists preparing for Labor Day weekend are seeing lower gas prices at the pump in California and across the country.

The statewide average price on Wednesday was $4.622, down from $5.287 on the same date in 2023, according to AAA.

“It’s good news for people who travel by car that prices are lower than what we were paying last year,” said Doug Shupe, manager of corporate communications for the Auto Club’s Los Angeles office. But he added that gas prices aren’t the driving factor in vacation plans, which are typically made well in advance of a holiday like Labor Day.

Gasoline in California continues to cost more than the national average, which AAA said was $3,361 on Wednesday, down from $3,819 a year ago.

Prices department by department

Within the state, prices varied slightly, but remained around $4.60 a gallon in Southern California, AAA reported.

The average Wednesday was $4,676 in Ventura County, $4,691 in Santa Barbara County, $4,576 in Los Angeles County, $4,491 in San Bernardino County, $4,459 in Riverside County and $4,683 in San Diego County.

Prices rose as motorists headed north along the coast. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in San Luis Obispo County was $4,861, and in San Francisco County it was $4,831. Northern California counties along the coast saw prices around $5 a gallon.

The news was better in the northern and central parts of the state. Average prices were $4.54 in Shasta County, $4.511 in San Joaquin County, $4.596 in Tulare County and $4.594 per gallon in Fresno County.

Gasoline cheaper in Oregon and Nevada

Gasoline is cheaper in states surrounding California, according to AAA figures.

In Oregon, the average price of gasoline was $3.799 a gallon on Wednesday, down from $4.745 a year ago.

Motorists heading to Las Vegas will find cheaper gas in Nevada. The average price was $3.968 on Wednesday. At the same time in 2023, the average price was $4.49.

But Shupe is advising drivers leaving California for Las Vegas on Thursday and Friday to leave in the morning. Interstate 15, the highway connecting California and Nevada, will be congested in the afternoons on both days, the AAA spokesman said.

He offers other tips for drivers, such as saving gas by placing luggage inside the car, not on top of it.

Find the lowest gas prices

According to gasbuddy.com, some stations were selling gasoline Wednesday for $4.25 per gallon or less in Ventura County, $3.89 per gallon or less in Fresno County and $3.83 per gallon or less in Riverside County.

The website lists the cheapest gas stations in California, county by county. Gas stations include those at big box stores like Costco and Sam’s Club, which are known for their lower gas prices.

Why are prices falling?

According to USA Today, the drop in oil prices has led to a drop in gasoline prices. The U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, is down more than 10% since early July. The decline is being driven by factors including weakening demand for oil in China, a major consumer, and ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, said Matt Smith, an oil analyst at Kpler, a commodity data firm.

Why is gasoline so expensive in California?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, several factors influence gas prices, including crude oil prices, refining costs, taxes, distribution and marketing.

As of August 26, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the United States was $3.35. In California, the average price of gasoline was $4.45.

Why are California gasoline prices higher than the rest of the country? California requires a special, more expensive blend of gasoline that reduces pollution. Another problem? According to the California Energy Commission, this special blend of gasoline is processed by only 11 refineries in the state.

Finally, California’s high taxes also play a role. According to the Energy Information Administration, the state has the highest gasoline taxes in the country, at 60 cents per gallon.

Driving Tips to Save Gas

Looking for ways to save money on gas? The American Automobile Association (AAA) has proven it first: Unless premium fuel is recommended or required by your car’s manufacturer, it doesn’t provide any additional benefits. So choose the least expensive blend.

AAA also suggests:

• Slow down: On the highway, aerodynamic drag causes a significant drop in fuel consumption as speeds increase above 50 mph.

• Avoid sudden starts and abrupt acceleration. These actions significantly increase fuel consumption.

• Avoid idling the engine for too long to warm it up, even in winter. This is unnecessary and wastes fuel.

• When approaching a red light or stop sign, quickly take your foot off the accelerator and let your car slow down until it is time to brake.

• Use cruise control to maintain a constant speed and save fuel.

• Reduce your use of air conditioning. Even at high speeds, open windows have less effect on fuel consumption than the engine power needed to run the air conditioning compressor.

• In hot weather, park in the shade or use a windshield sunshade to reduce heat build-up inside the car. This reduces the need for air conditioning (and therefore fuel) to cool the car.

• Remove unnecessary and bulky items from your car. Accelerating a heavier car requires more fuel, and reducing fuel consumption is more important for smaller cars than for larger models.

• Use roof racks sparingly and remove special racks when not in use. On the highway, even an empty bike rack, canoe or ski rack can reduce fuel consumption, and a loaded bike rack or car roof container will have a major effect on gas mileage.

Dave Mason covers East County for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at [email protected] or 805-437-0232.

This article included earlier reporting by USA TODAY’s Bailey Schulz.

This article was originally published on Ventura County Star: Gas prices drop in California as Labor Day approaches