Why Gas Prices in Los Angeles Are Near a Record High

The price of gasoline in Los Angeles County is just cents away from a historic record. As of Monday afternoon, September 28, regular gasoline in the Los Angeles and Long Beach area cost $6.41 per gallon.

That figure is just 8 cents below the all-time high of $6.49 per gallon, reached in 2022. Data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows that the upward trend is not exclusive to Los Angeles County.

In Orange County, a gallon costs an average of $6.39. In Riverside, the price is also $6.39 per gallon. San Bernardino registers $6.30 and Ventura, $6.31 per gallon, according to KTLA.

Conflict with Iran and Seasonal Factors Behind the Increase

AAA explained that California faces a combination of adverse factors. Among them are the conflict between the United States and Iran and the taxes and seasonal regulations that affect fuel prices in the state.

The conflict has disrupted the global flow of oil since July, when the United States directly intervened in the dispute. Since then, gasoline prices in Los Angeles have risen consistently for 40 consecutive days, according to KTLA.

«We know from previous AAA data that many people would change their driving habits, or even their lifestyle, if gasoline prices reached $4 per gallon,» said AAA spokeswoman Kandance Redd. Redd added that the national average has already exceeded that figure, currently at $4.48 per gallon.

Diesel: The Fuel That Has Already Broken Its Own Record

A gallon of diesel has already reached unprecedented levels in California. At the national level, the average is $6.45 per gallon, while in California it reaches $8.40 per gallon, according to data cited by La Opinión.

California had recorded a state diesel record of $8.0956 per gallon in mid-September, nearly $3 more than a year prior, according to NBC Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County, diesel averaged $8.0440 per gallon that same month.

The increase in diesel is especially concerning for logistics specialists. Most of the cargo trucks that transport food and goods in the United States use this fuel to operate.

How Rising Fuel Costs Impact the Cost of Living

Specialists warned that if diesel prices remain high, consumers could pay higher prices for food and other products. This would occur as the costs of transporting goods increase.

California already faces higher gasoline prices than the rest of the country. Economists at the University of California, Berkeley have pointed out for years that higher state taxes and environmental regulations, such as the use of a special gasoline blend in summer, raise fuel costs in the state.

The record price for regular gasoline in the United States, $5.02 per gallon, was also recorded in 2022. At the national level, the current average is just over 50 cents below that historic mark, indicating that pressure on prices continues at the federal level.

Drivers looking to reduce fuel spending can compare prices between gas stations using apps like GasBuddy or the AAA app, keep tires properly inflated, and avoid aggressive driving. As long as the conflict in the Middle East continues, gasoline and diesel prices are likely to remain under pressure in the coming weeks.