EMERYVILLE, Calif. – Californians will be paying less at the pump as summer driving season begins, if recent trends in gas prices continue.  

All metro areas in Northern California show a decrease of at least two cents, and as much as thirteen cents, from last month’s gas prices, according to the AAA Northern California monthly gas survey.

California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.96, down by six cents since last month’s AAA report on May 14, 2013.

For perspective, gas prices today are $0.16 less expensive than California’s average price on this date last year.

Among all 50 states, California has the fifth highest state average price for regular unleaded gasoline. Hawaii is the highest at $4.35.

Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.95 per gallon, a decrease of $0.03 in price from last month’s report.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $4.05, which is down $0.07 from last month.

This week's national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.63, while motorist paid an average of $3.70 per gallon one year ago.

 “Statewide lower prices are expected to continue through June, barring any unforeseen event, said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California Spokesperson. “Increased refinery production, steady crude oil prices, and less demand by consumers are driving this trend.”

Drivers in 25 states and Washington D.C. have seen prices increase over the past week. This group is led by sharply higher prices in several Great Lakes States, including jumps of at least eight cents per gallon.

The near record high gas prices in these states are the product of continued low supplies and transportation challenges for wholesale gasoline in the Chicago market, particularly because of maintenance at the ExxonMobil refinery in Joliet, Illinois and the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana.

While prices may tick higher in the next few days, AAA continues to expect lower prices, both nationally and in the Great Lakes region, as June continues.

Prices should drop below a national average by the end of the month if refineries, particularly those in the Great Lakes, can transition smoothly from ongoing maintenance to full production.

National gasoline markets have been driven by regional supply and production issues and not by West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices, which traded within a narrow $5 range in May. At the close of yesterday’s formal trading on the NYMEX, WTI settled down $0.26 at $95.77 per barrel.

The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville where regular unleaded gasoline is $3.79 per gallon.

Of all the metro areas in Northern California, where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka has the highest average price at $4.17.

The highest average price of gas, in the nation’s metro areas that AAA tracks, is in Wailuku, Hawaii. The price there is $4.58 per gallon. The lowest is in Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson in South Carolina, where the price is $3.18 per gallon.                                           

To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also helps conserve gasoline.

AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express, LLC.