California gas prices are at a record high and could get higher as we head into Presidents Day weekend.Experts say the state could see prices hit $5 a gallon soon. The U.S. national average is $3.51 but California is seeing the highest impact nationwide. AAA reports the state’s current average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is at $4.73, which is the highest recorded average price and is up $1.25 from 2021. KCRA 3 stopped by a few gas stations to speak to drivers and many tell us they’ll be minimizing travel, opting to stay local or are choosing other activities to save some cash this holiday weekend.”Travel less, just store and come back, but mostly come like every three or four days, we need to gas up. It’s just crazy,” driver Nee Vong said he’s already sticking to essential drives.Eva Oropeza-Lee and her family said they have been staying in and instead of traveling are taking walks and bike rides to stay active, be outdoors and save at the pump.Finance professor Sanjay Varshney at Sacramento State University said that some factors playing into the jump on prices are demand, inflation, supply chain issues, the Russia and Ukraine conflict and the U.S.’ attempt to slowly get away from fossil fuels.”The Biden administration – that was a policy error in my opinion because they canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, so we went from being the largest energy producer in the world to suddenly now struggling to find more energy in the world market,” Varshney said.He believes that gas prices will keep rising and it’s only a matter of time.In the meantime, Elk Grove resident Megan Hayes said she wanted to go to Lake Tahoe but is holding off in an attempt to save money.”I’ve had to drive a little bit slower, leave for work earlier so that I’m not constantly stopping and keep going because I take Highway 99 to work and 99 in the morning gets backed up,” she said.
California gas prices are at a record high and could get higher as we head into Presidents Day weekend.
Experts say the state could see prices hit $5 a gallon soon.
The U.S. national average is $3.51 but California is seeing the highest impact nationwide. AAA reports the state’s current average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is at $4.73, which is the highest recorded average price and is up $1.25 from 2021.
KCRA 3 stopped by a few gas stations to speak to drivers and many tell us they’ll be minimizing travel, opting to stay local or are choosing other activities to save some cash this holiday weekend.
“Travel less, just store and come back, but mostly come like every three or four days, we need to gas up. It’s just crazy,” driver Nee Vong said he’s already sticking to essential drives.
Eva Oropeza-Lee and her family said they have been staying in and instead of traveling are taking walks and bike rides to stay active, be outdoors and save at the pump.
Finance professor Sanjay Varshney at Sacramento State University said that some factors playing into the jump on prices are demand, inflation, supply chain issues, the Russia and Ukraine conflict and the U.S.’ attempt to slowly get away from fossil fuels.
“The Biden administration – that was a policy error in my opinion because they canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, so we went from being the largest energy producer in the world to suddenly now struggling to find more energy in the world market,” Varshney said.
He believes that gas prices will keep rising and it’s only a matter of time.
In the meantime, Elk Grove resident Megan Hayes said she wanted to go to Lake Tahoe but is holding off in an attempt to save money.
“I’ve had to drive a little bit slower, leave for work earlier so that I’m not constantly stopping and keep going because I take Highway 99 to work and 99 in the morning gets backed up,” she said.