LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles became the first U.S. city to hit a $6 per gallon average for gas, as fuel prices continue to surge globally.
On Wednesday, AAA listed the average price of gas in Los Angeles County at $6.02. That’s more expensive than both the California average of $5.88 and the national average of $4.24.
While the U.S. Energy Information Administration data shows the national price of fuel has slowly started to decline since peaking at $4.32 per gallon the week of March 14, that has not been the case in California.
PBF Energy and Valero refineries in Torrance, Martinez, and Benicia have all had problems recently that have decreased production and driven up prices in California, Patrick De Haan, the head analyst at GasBuddy, told the Los Angeles Times. The PBF Energy refinery in Torrance is causing one of the biggest issues, with a key unit offline since March 6 and no estimate on when it will restart.
There are other factors that play into higher gas prices in California as well. Summer-grade gasoline, which is more expensive to produce, is switched into use earlier in California than other states, The Wall Street Journal Reported.
Lawmakers in California had proposed a temporary suspension of the state’s gas tax to help drivers, but the Los Angeles Times reports the proposal did not get enough votes.
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