WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Average gas prices in California climbed four cents in just the past month, according to the latest report from AAA Northern California, which tracks gas prices as a service to consumers.

 

According to AAA’s latest report, all but one metro area tracked by AAA saw an increase at the pump over the past month.

California’s average gas price is the third highest among all 50 states. The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.14, up four cents since last month’s report on Oct. 12. For perspective, that’s 15 cents higher than California’s average price on this date last year, when it was $2.99.

 

Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.17, up six cents from last month. In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $3.23, which is a 5-cent increase.

The national average price of $2.86 is up by five cents, which is 20 cents more than the national price on this date last year, when it was $2.66.

 

Seasonal refinery maintenance along with the high price of crude oil are two of the major factors driving up gas prices.

Crude oil has remained above the $80 per barrel range, pushing gas prices up along with it. A primary reason crude oil is so high is due to the weak U.S. dollar. Since oil is priced in dollars, a weak dollar makes crude cheaper for those using other currencies to purchase it.

 

“Oil stockpiles are at their highest levels in six months, but pump prices aren’t dropping, thanks in part to a lack of gasoline reserves,” explained AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “This lack of gasoline supply is being attributed to autumn maintenance at oil refineries across the country, which has cut down on how much gas they are producing.”

 

A recent report from the Department of Energy showed that U.S. crude oil stockpiles jumped nearly two million barrels to 368.2 million – their highest levels since May 15, 2009.

Normally, this might lead to a drop in prices. However, a larger-than-normal draw of 2.7 million barrels for gasoline stockpiles overrode those builds. Usually a drawdown in gas stockpiles would be seen as a positive economic indicator.

However, this time, the drawdown is being partly attributed to U.S. refineries not making as much gasoline as they normally would, because they are performing autumn maintenance. As the maintenance period wraps up, these refineries are expected to come back online over the coming weeks, which will increase the supply of refined product in the market.

 

The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Chico, Marysville and Tracy where regular is $3.10.

Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka’s average price of $3.33 is the highest. It’s also the highest price reported by AAA in the lower 48 states.

The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where the average price of gas is $2.61.

Wailuku, Hawaii, holds the dubious crown for the highest average price in the nation, at $3.92 per gallon.