California gas prices take a hike
Some people who needed to gas up Friday may have been in for an unpleasant surprise. Higher gas prices have reappeared in parts of the Central Coast. As we head into a different season, California’s state refinery operations make a change by transitioning from a winter blend of fuel to a summer blend. That more-expensive blend is made for warm weather, evaporating less quickly. Wholesale gasoline is making a jump of more than 50 cents a gallon, directly impacting prices at the pump. In some parts of the Central Coast, prices went up by 30 cents a gallon today. Drivers are trying to fill up before the hikes hit all areas.
“It’s gonna be a lot so I guess I would want to get the jump on that taking place. I mean a lot of people are going to feel that in their wallets so definitely,” said one driver.
“Yeah I think that sucks. I mean you go to Michigan right now, gas is 47 cents a gallon. It is what it is, you’re going to pay it either way,” said another.
Cynthia Harris from AAA says there’s an uptick in prices around this time every year due to the change in fuel, but the increase will be significantly less than last year.
As for why gas prices have been so low over the last month? California refinieries have been trying to get rid of the last of their winter blend by lowering wholesale prices. It sure was nice while it lasted.
