Gas Prices Jump Up to 20 Cents Overnight in California
Californians woke up to sticker shock Friday as overnight gasoline prices jumped by up to 20 cents a gallon in some areas, prompting some stations to close and others to charge more than $5 a gallon.
The AAA Daily Fuel Gauge report said the average price of gas across the state was nearly $4.49 a gallon — highest in the nation.
In Southern California, the price jumped 20 cents a gallon to $4.53 in Ventura and 19 cents to nearly $4.54 in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area.
In San Francisco, a gallon of regular gas is nearly $4.60.
In many areas, prices have jumped 40 cents in a week.
Refinery problems have helped send wholesale prices soaring.
Some stations ran out of gas and closed Thursday rather than pay those costs.
The Los Angeles Times said some Costco stations closed.