Overview
- The U.S. average rose to $4.39 per gallon Friday, the highest since July 2022 after nine straight daily increases reported by AAA.
- California’s statewide average reached about $6.06, with Los Angeles County at $6.141, the county’s highest level since October 2023.
- AAA and the Automobile Club of Southern California linked the surge to supply fears tied to the Iran conflict and threats to tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.
- California’s premium reflects higher state fuel taxes, a required cleaner-burning blend that few refineries make, and refinery closures that have tightened local supply.
- Political and consumer reactions are growing, with President Donald Trump saying prices will fall once the Iran war ends as some Californians drive to Arizona for cheaper gas.