Pain at the pump: Sacramento drivers groan at record-high gas prices, well above US average

Gas prices continue to skyrocket in Sacramento and across the U.S. — the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel reached an all-time high of $5 per gallon this weekend. But that national average pales in comparison to what most in the capital region are paying at the pump.

According to AAA, which collects data on national gas prices, the Sacramento metro area is seeing a gas price average of $6.444 per gallon for regular grade. The Monday average is the highest the market has ever seen.

For diesel, the price is even steeper — peaking at $7.042 per gallon on Sunday.

The prices are being felt by drivers across the Sacramento region. Connie Hodge, 62, has lived in California her entire life, but said she had never seen gas prices as high as these.

“You’ve gotta pay what you’ve gotta pay,” Hodge said. “It’s very high.”

Why the high prices?

Gas prices have climbed at a steady rate all spring. According to AAA data, average prices in Sacramento have risen 1.26% in the past week, and 10.4% in the last month.

Nationally, gas prices have been driven up by quickly-rising rates of inflation and a ban on importing Russian energy into the United States imposed by President Joe Biden, a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

But compared to the national average of $5.014, Californians are paying on average $1.40 more for a gallon of gas than those elsewhere in the country.

Joel Jaszcz, a Las Vegas native passing through Sacramento on a road trip, told The Sacramento Bee that prices in California were dramatically higher than what he encountered in other states on his trip.

“In California, (Sacramento’s stations are) in the ballpark, but Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Washington — they’re all much cheaper,” Jaszcz said.

The disparity can be attributed to policies and costs unique to California, including a high excise tax and stringent environmental laws, which mandate cleaner-burning (and pricier) fuels.

Gasoline in California is taxed at 51.1 cents per gallon — the highest gas excise tax of any state in the country. On July 1, the tax is slated to rise again to account for inflation, hiking to 53.9 cents per gallon.

According to the federal Energy Information Administration, California’s reformulated gasoline program is more stringent than that of the federal government — California gasoline must use a different formula in warmer weather in an effort to curb pollution.

As a result, gas prices in the state are typically higher and more variable because few supply sources outside of the state are able to offer California’s unique blend of gasoline.

Even within California, the Sacramento region is paying about a penny more than the state average and 9 cents higher than the same gallon in Fresno. Sacramento’s prices are in line with Los Angeles’ prices but lower than San Francisco, according to AAA.

‘It is a real struggle’

Jackie Rivera and Desiree Kelly, employees at the North Natomas Shell station, said that surging prices have affected the demeanor of their customers. Rivera said there is “always a comment,” when people enter the store to pay for their gas.

On Monday, gas at Rivera and Kelly’s station cost $6.59 per gallon, when paid in cash.

“It is a real struggle, just super sad,” Rivera said.

But the prices have not served to drive away demand. If anything, Kelly said, the station now sees more customers, as people are limiting the amount of gas they buy at one time, making for more trips to the pump.

“Everyone still needs gas,” Kelly said.

But some people have found ways to cut down on their gas intake. Matthew Harmon, a resident who lives near UC Davis Medical Center, told The Bee that since prices started rising, he has exclusively used the more fuel-efficient of his two cars.

Harmon also learned to ride a motorcycle specifically because of rising gas prices, and now uses it as an alternative to his car.

“(Rising prices) are just something I need to react to,” Harmon said. “But when I need to, I’m still going to fill up.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2022 at 2:16 PM.