Oil’s rise, refinery snags fuel the West Coast city’s prices to highest yet

Press release from Gasbuddy.com
BOSTON (March 22, 2022) — Los Angeles, today, became the first major city in the U.S. to reach an average gas price of $6 or more, according to GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform saving North American drivers the most money on gas. The national average gas price in the U.S. has begun to decline since its peak of $4.35 per gallon, set on March 10, but prices on the West Coast, and specifically California, have continued to soar.
This milestone was reached largely due to rebounding oil prices because of the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine but recent refinery kinks in Southern California amidst a rise in seasonal demand has pushed Los Angeles over the top. California also typically has some of the highest gas prices in the country because of its high gas taxes and its cap and trade program, which assess a premium based on emissions. Statewide, California’s average gas price is now $5.85 per gallon.
“In less than three weeks, the average price of gasoline in Los Angeles has surged by an average of $1 per gallon, blowing past $5 and now reaching $6 per gallon on refinery issues and Russia’s war on Ukraine,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “While I’m hopeful we won’t go much beyond this, there’s not much light at the end of the tunnel for now.”
Another potential headache could be developing: refinery workers at a Chevron refinery recently went on strike, pushing the refiner to find replacement workers in the interim. After, a flaring event occurred, indicating a potential problem at the facility. The current $6 per gallon prices have happened because of a culmination of many issues, but could worsen if more issues develop before others are solved.
GasBuddy recommends drivers in the Los Angeles area always compare gas prices before filling up to save money.

The Post traveled all over the world this year, including the old walled city of Lucca, in the Tuscany region of Italy, where Steve and Judy Reed visited in September. Photo by J. Reed.

It was a great year for our “Post travels to” feature in 2017. The Post traveled far and wide. It traveled as close as Traverse City, and as far away as New Zealand. Other places the Post traveled included: Weidman, Mich. to see Dr. Pol; Canada, the Danube River in Hungary and Germany; Great Britain; Peru; St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.; Beartooth Highway in Montana and Wyoming; the Bahamas; Beijing; Big Bay, Mich.; Branson, Missouri; California; China; Cozumel, Mexico; Disney World; the Dominican Republic; Los Angeles; Fort Myers; Hawaii; Italy; Kentucky, Ohio; Shipshewana; and Spain.

We have run out of Post travel photos, so if you have one, please send it in! (See details in other Post travels story on this page.)

Chris Grondman, Cody Cook and Jacob Prahl of Cedar Springs traveled to the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California and brought their favorite newspaper along. It was a three-day event that showcased many new gaming products, designs and concepts.

It sounds like a great time! Thanks so much for taking us with you!

Are you going on vacation? Take the Post with you and snap some photos. Then send them to us with some info to news@cedarspringspost.com or mail them to Post travels, PO Box 370, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. We will be looking for yours!