California Gas Tax Hike Hits Prices

Local gas prices moved up on average by about nine cents in the last two days and by 10 cents in a week - nearly the full amount of the statewide 12-cent gas tax hike that took effect on Wednesday, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The retail statewide average is $3.12 a gallon for regular unleaded, up nine cents from a week ago.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area is $3.16 per gallon, which is 10 cents more than last week, four cents higher than last month, and 27 cents higher than last year. In San Diego, the average price is $3.14, also 10 cents higher than a week ago, six cents more than last month, and 28 cents more than this time last year. On the Central Coast, the average price is $3.14, which is nine cents higher than last week, three cents higher than last month, and 27 cents higher than last year. In the Inland Empire, the average per-gallon price is $3.10, which is a dime higher than last week, three cents more than last month, and 29 cents more than at this time last year.

“The tax hike’s effect at many, but not all, gas pumps was immediate on Wednesday,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring. “While we believed the switch to the cheaper winter blend of gasoline could have cancelled out some of the tax increase, higher oil prices and lower inventory have instead pushed underlying fuel costs higher. The tax increase plus these additional issues make the usual fall price decline less likely going forward.”

The Auto Club recommends that consumers download the free AAA Mobile app to virtually shop around for the lowest gas price near them.

The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline. As of 9 a.m. on Nov. 2, averages are: