July 13--Los Angeles-area drivers saw a 40-cent increase in gas prices from Friday to Monday, but relief is coming.
Wholesale prices have eased up a bit, meaning retail prices at the pump will also start to drop. By Wednesday, the huge increases seen over the weekend will likely taper off, but they won't fall as quickly as they rose.
"They definitely do not drop as they rise," said Allison Mac, petroleum analyst for Gas Buddy.
Monday's average price was $4.07 a gallon, about 40 cents higher than Friday's price of $3.66, according to Gas Buddy.
AAA listed Monday's average price at $4.05 a gallon, up from $3.92 on Sunday.
Prices in Los Angeles are about 30 cents higher than the state average of $3.715, and about $1.28 higher than the national average of $2.77, according to AAA.
Gas prices have risen 50 cents a gallon from a week ago in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area as a shortage of refined petroleum hit the Southland, according to the AAA Automobile Club of Southern California.
The Tesoro Corp. plant in Carson, for instance, just reduced its refining capacity for maintenance. That follows Tesoro's move in February to idle its Northern California refinery in Martinez after a nationwide union walkout. Then Exxon Mobil Corp. scaled back operations at its Torrance facility when an explosion damaged an air pollution monitoring unit.
"The market is responding to all of these pressures," said Marie Montgomery, a spokeswoman for AAA Automobile Club of Southern California. "Until the refineries resolve the problems... prices will probably continue to go up at the gas stations."
Dean Smith, 54, a clerk for the city, said Monday he and his wife chose to carpool because of high gas prices. Even before the latest jump, Smith said he picked up a part-time job with the Uber ride service to meet his expenses.
"I'm mad as hell," he said at a 76 gas station on 6th Street downtown. "It scared me enough to go out there and find a second job."
Some drivers have just become resolved to high pump prices in Los Angeles and California.
Jessi Diaz, a 27-year-old model who lives in L.A., said she usually spends $60 to fill up the Toyota Tacoma she drives. On Monday, she stopped at $20.
"I think it's ridiculous, to be honest," Diaz said. "I just don't look at the price. Either way, I'm still going to come here to buy."
Why has California and L.A. in particular so far above the rest of the nation?
There's the 70 cents tacked on for taxes and fees, Montgomery said. There's trouble the industry had with its refineries. And there's the special blend of gas California uses for the environment.
Last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released a report saying there was a lack of fuel imports to California, said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for Gas Buddy.
Since then, wholesale prices have increased. It took local gas stations about four to five days to match the jump, he said.
However, the demand will likely draw gasoline shipments from Europe and Asia, DeHaan said.
"High prices always attract more gasoline cargos," he said.
UPDATES
3:45 p.m.: This article has been updated with more explanation about why gas prices have jumped.
12:42 p.m.: This article has been updated with comment from drivers.
9:21 a.m.: This article has been updated with California and U.S. average gas prices.
This article was originally published at 8:41 a.m.
