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📖 New to fuel prices?Read our complete US Gas Price Guide — how crude becomes pump prices, why costs vary by state, and how to save money →
Global Benchmark Prices
Crude Oil
WTI (West Texas Intermediate) is the US benchmark. Brent is the global benchmark. Both quoted in USD per barrel.
West Texas Intermediate
US Benchmark · Cushing, OK
WTI
$92.16
4.71(-4.86%)1W
Brent Crude
Global Benchmark · North Sea
BRENT
$93.76
5.19(-5.25%)1W
🟢
Crude-to-Pump Outlook

Crude down 12.3% in 4 weeks — pump relief may be coming

WTI crude has fallen $12.94/bbl over the past month. Gas stations are typically slower to pass on savings than price increases, but relief at the pump usually arrives within 2–4 weeks.

💡If you can wait a week or two, you may find slightly cheaper pump prices ahead.
-12.3%WTI · 4 weeks
Retail Pump Prices · USD per gallon

California

Weekly averages from EIA. Select a region to compare prices across the US.
📍 Change region
Regular
$5.554
0.142 / gal
Midgrade
$5.892
0.127 / gal
Premium
$6.002
0.154 / gal
Diesel
$6.713
0.227 / gal
Historical Context · 52-Week Range

California prices are +17.8% above the 1-year average

Current Price$5.554/gal regular
1-Year Average$4.715+$0.839 vs avg
Period Low$3.977Jan 2026
Period High$5.969May 2026
4-Week Trend 6.8%falling
Position in Range
$3.98 low$5.97 high
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Crude Price History
WTIBrent
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Regular Gasoline · USD / gal

California Price History

Current$5.554
1Y Low$3.977
1Y High$5.969
1Y Avg$4.715
Change+25%
All Regions

Price Comparison

Ranked by pump price. Click a region to view its dashboard.

#RegionRegularvs othersvs last wkMidPremDiesel
Texas$3.432
-0.129$3.93$4.27
2Gulf Coast (PADD 3)$3.521
-0.122$4.03$4.37$4.65
3Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C)$3.725
-0.038$4.21$4.59$4.83
4Florida$3.739
+0.045$4.20$4.54
5Minnesota$3.834
-0.098$4.20$4.70
6Midwest (PADD 2)$3.861
-0.084$4.31$4.92$5.01
7East Coast (PADD 1)$3.913
-0.077$4.43$4.80$5.05
8Colorado$3.950
-0.035$4.36$4.68
9U.S. National Average$4.052
-0.094$4.67$5.04$5.06
10Massachusetts$4.067
-0.129$4.67$5.06
11Ohio$4.080
+0.064$4.67$5.24
12New England (PADD 1A)$4.101
-0.136$4.70$5.07$5.51
13Rocky Mountain (PADD 4)$4.104
-0.090$4.45$4.76$5.02
14Central Atlantic (PADD 1B)$4.140
-0.115$4.69$4.98$5.50
15New York$4.190
-0.089$4.65$4.97
16West Coast excl. CA$4.844
-0.111$5.30$5.48$5.52
17West Coast (PADD 5)$5.229
-0.129$5.69$5.83$6.07
18Washington$5.343
-0.101$5.70$5.88
Californiayou$5.554
-0.142$5.89$6.00$6.71

California Gas Prices — What You Need to Know

California's regular gasoline is currently holding at $5.554 per gallon, down $0.142 from last week as crude oil prices moderate slightly. This price level remains well above the national average, reflecting California's unique fuel market and strict environmental regulations. Summer driving season typically pushes prices upward, but the recent weekly decline suggests some relief in the supply-demand balance.

At the current price, filling a 15-gallon tank with regular gasoline costs about $83.31, compared to roughly $84.43 last week. California's gas prices are among the highest in the nation due to the state's unique Low Carbon Fuel Standard, boutique fuel blends, and higher state excise taxes—currently 68.2 cents per gallon. Diesel fuel sits at $6.713 per gallon, a $1.159 spread above regular, reflecting separate refining demands and supply constraints.

What Drives Gas Prices in California?

California's gas prices are driven by three primary regional factors: state-mandated low-sulfur, cleaner-burning fuel blends that require specialized refining capacity, making the state less able to import cheaper out-of-state gasoline; a limited number of in-state refineries concentrated in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Kern County, reducing competition and increasing vulnerability to outages; and California's excise tax of 68.2 cents per gallon plus additional local sales taxes, which add roughly 50–65 cents per gallon depending on county. Seasonal summer demand peaks in June through August, traditionally supporting higher prices even before environmental blend costs.

From Crude Oil to the Pump

WTI crude is trading at $92.16 per barrel and Brent at $93.76, with California refineries primarily processing Brent-linked crudes; a modest decline from weeks prior has begun trickling to the pump. Typically, crude price changes reach California gas stations within 2 to 6 weeks, so current prices largely reflect mid-May crude levels around $95–$97 per barrel. Any sustained crude weakness below $90 would likely ease pump prices further by late July, though refinery maintenance or supply disruptions could offset that benefit.

💡 Money-Saving Tip: Fill up on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings when California stations typically refresh pricing after the weekend demand spike; avoid filling on Friday evenings and Saturdays when prices tend to peak. Download GasBuddy or use GetPumpRate to identify the cheapest stations in your area—California's price spread between cities can exceed $0.30 per gallon, making location choice a key savings lever.

Price Outlook for California

California gas prices may experience modest downward pressure if crude remains near $92–$94 per barrel over the next two weeks, though summer driving season and potential refinery disruptions remain upside risks. Watch for any announced refinery maintenance in July and August, as even brief outages in California's constrained refining system can quickly push prices up 20–40 cents per gallon.

Frequently Asked Questions

California Fuel Prices — FAQ

Regular gasoline in California currently averages $5.554 per gallon, down $0.142 from last week. Prices are sourced weekly from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and reflect averages across retail stations in the region.