AAA: California Gas Prices Rose 15 Cents Since Last Week

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Drivers in California are seeing gas prices inch even higher, with the average jumping 15 cents over last week to $6.16, and $1.82 higher than this time last year.

The rest of the country is also feeling the impact experiencing another sharp increase at the pump with the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rising 25 cents for the second consecutive week to $4.55. Nationwide pump prices are now $1.40 higher than they were a year ago and have reached their highest level since 2022, when the national average peaked at $5.01 per gallon.

“While crude oil prices dipped below $100 per barrel amid ongoing negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, gasoline prices continue to face upward pressure from global supply concerns,” said AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson Doug Johnson.

Fuel Prices Around the State:

San Francisco: $6.35
Oakland: $6.22
San Jose: $6.17
Sacramento: $6.11
Fresno: $6.08
Stockton: $6.00

Contra Costa Gas Prices

May 8, 2026 – $6.22
April 24. 2026 – $5.95
April 17, 2026 – $5.94
April 9, 2026 – $5.99
April 3, 2026 – $5.94
March 27, 2026 – $5.88
March 20, 2026 – $5.70
March 12, 2026 – $5.49
March 6, 2026 – $4.95
March 5, 2026 – $4.88
Feb 27, 2026 – $4.75
Feb 20, 2026 – $4.73
Feb 13, 2026 – $4.70
Feb 6, 2026 – $4.50
Jan 30, 2026 – $4.39
Jan 16, 2026 – $4.23
Jan 9, 2026 – $4.23
Dec. 19, 2025 – $4.31

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.10 million b/d to 8.81 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 222.3 million barrels to 219.8 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

AAA Shares Tips to Help Drivers Save on Gas

Save on gas. Use the AAA Mobile App to find the cheapest gas stations along your route, plan your trip, request roadside assistance, and more. AAA Members can save 30¢ per gallon on your first fill-up at participating stations when you join Shell Fuel Rewards®. All AAA Shell Fuel Rewards® Members save 5¢ per gallon on their fill-ups of up to 20 gallons at participating stations with complimentary Gold Status.

Avoid Speeding: Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Driving the recommended speed limit can increase fuel economy between 7 and 14 percent.

Regular vs. Premium: Pay close attention to the words “recommended” and “required.” If regular gas is recommended for your vehicle, that’s all you need. Choosing premium when your car doesn’t require it will only cost you money and doesn’t improve fuel economy.

Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle (e.g., trunk, cargo area, etc.) as weight increases the amount of effort it takes to move the vehicle.

Avoid Excessive Idling: When idling, car engines use up to one-half gallons of fuel per hour. Warm engines take about 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. Shut off your engine when stopped for more than a minute and if it’s safe to do so.

Check Tire Pressure and Align Tires: Maintaining proper tire pressure reduces your tire’s friction with the road. Less friction means less energy is needed to move, resulting in using less gas. Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by 0.6 percent on average.
Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell $7.19 to settle at $95.08 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories decreased by 2.3 million barrels from the previous week. At 457.2 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 1% above the five-year average for this time of year

EV Charging

The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remained the same at 41 cents. In California, the average is 46 cents.

State Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($6.16), Washington ($5.76), Hawaii ($5.66), Oregon ($5.34), Nevada ($5.23), Alaska ($5.21), Illinois ($4.99), Arizona ($4.84), Ohio ($4.78), and Michigan ($4.78).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($3.98), Mississippi ($4.00), Louisiana ($4.02), Arkansas ($4.02), Nebraska ($4.08), Texas ($4.09), Georgia ($4.09), Alabama ($4.10), Kansas ($4.11), and Missouri ($4.16).

Electric

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are West Virginia (53 cents), Hawaii (51 cents), Alaska (50 cents), New Hampshire (47 cents), Louisiana (47 cents), California (46 cents), South Carolina (46 cents), New Jersey (45 cents), Arkansas (44 cents), and Illinois (44 cents).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (29 cents), Missouri (31 cents), Utah (33 cents), Maryland (33 cents), Nebraska (33 cents), Iowa (34 cents), South Dakota (34 cents), Vermont (35 cents), New Mexico (37 cents), and Delaware (37 cents).

Drivers can find current gas and electric charging prices along their route using the AAA Mobile App, now available on CarPlay. Find current fuel prices at gasprices.aaa.com. Find local news releases at mwg.aaa.com/news/press-release.

About AAA Mountain West Group

AAA Mountain West Group is one of the most trusted membership organizations, proudly serving over 6.8 million Members across Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Utah, and Wyoming. Named one of Forbes’ Most Trusted Companies in America, AAA delivers unmatched expertise and value through roadside assistance and electric vehicle (EV) resources, along with comprehensive auto repair, travel, insurance, financial, and home security services. Powered by 5,300 dedicated Team Members, AAA is on a mission to revolutionize solutions that help our Members.

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