California hits $6 gas prices
- On May 24, AAA listed California’s average regular gasoline price at $6.111 a gallon, keeping the state the nation’s most expensive market. - AAA said the U.S. average was $4.515 on May 24, leaving California drivers paying about $1.60 more per gallon. - AAA’s daily state averages and Auto Club Memorial Day travel updates are tracking the next moves for California drivers.
California drivers are paying more than $6 a gallon for regular gasoline as Memorial Day travel peaks, according to AAA and the Auto Club of Southern California. AAA listed California’s statewide average at $6.111 on May 24, while the national average stood at $4.515. The gap has made California the most expensive state for gasoline in the country. Coverage by The New York Times and local California outlets said some drivers are responding by shortening trips, combining errands and keeping holiday travel closer to home. ### How far above the rest of the country is California right now? AAA’s May 24 data showed California at $6.111 for regular gasoline, compared with $5.770 in Washington, $5.651 in Hawaii and $5.309 in Oregon. The national average was $4.515, meaning California drivers were paying roughly $1.60 more per gallon than the U.S. average. (gasprices.aaa.com) The Auto Club of Southern California said on May 21 that the statewide average was $6.14 heading into Memorial Day weekend. The group said that was unchanged from a week earlier but $1.26 higher than a year earlier, making this the most expensive Memorial Day period for Southern California gasoline prices on record. (gasprices.aaa.com) ### Why are people talking about Memorial Day so much? AAA said Memorial Day weekend is a heavy driving period, and California’s price spike is landing as millions prepare to travel. Fox Los Angeles, citing AAA, reported that nearly 6 million Californians were expected to travel at least 50 miles from home for the holiday, with most choosing to drive. (news.aaa-calif.com) AAA said nationally that Memorial Day weekend gas prices had reached a four-year high. Yahoo Finance, citing AAA, reported that 45 million Americans were expected to travel at least 50 miles over the holiday weekend and that 87% of them would drive. ### What are drivers in California doing differently? (foxla.com) The New York Times reported on May 23 that the latest run-up in California gasoline prices had pushed more residents to change habits. The paper said drivers were cutting back, adjusting routines and rethinking how far they were willing to go. KSBW reported on the Central Coast that visitors were still heading to Monterey for Memorial Day weekend, but some were opting for shorter and more local trips. (finance.yahoo.com) That local reporting matched a broader pattern described by the Times: Californians are not necessarily canceling plans, but many are trimming distance and consolidating driving. ### Is this only a California story? (nytimes.com) ABC News reported this week that prices had climbed across the country, with the national average reaching $4.56 and some major cities outside California also seeing sharp increases. USA Today reported in April that a $4 national average was already changing how Americans budgeted for commuting and daily driving. (ksbw.com) California remains the outlier on price. AAA’s state table on May 24 showed no other state above California, and only Washington and Hawaii were even close to the mid-$5 range. ### What should readers watch next? AAA updates its state averages daily, and the Auto Club’s weekly fuel reports will show whether California holds above $6 after the Memorial Day weekend. (abcnews.com) The next closely watched marker will be whether the statewide average moves materially away from the $6.111 to $6.14 range recorded between May 21 and May 24. (gasprices.aaa.com)
