Hey President Biden, Talk to California About How Low Gas Prices Are Now
Well, President Joe Biden had a minute to brag about the lower gas prices for the American People. They played that song of triumph loud and clear, but the melody is over now. Gas prices hit a record high in Los Angeles County on Monday morning. The cost went up to $6.466 per gallon, which is significantly past the previous record set during the nationwide price surge in late spring.
The local ABC affiliate station KABC-7 gave this report on Monday:
“The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County rose seven-tenths of a cent to a record $6.466 Monday, topping the previous high of $6.462 set June 14.
The average price has risen 31 consecutive days, increasing $1.22, including 1 cent Sunday and 15.3 cents Thursday, the largest daily increase since the record 19.2-cent hike on Oct. 5, 2012, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.
…
The streak of increases follows a run of 78 decreases in 80 days totaling $1.216 that began June 15, one day after the average price rose to a record $6.462.”
Other media sources also reported that gasoline prices have risen in California over the past several weeks. This is despite a gradual decline across the nation over the same period.
There are several interesting factors for the difference, including problems at local refineries. The people in California already have paid the highest prices in the nation because of environmental regulations and taxes. But they also face a limited number of refineries due to those same regulations. That means that when some of them or not working because of maintenance that could be scheduled or not scheduled, the state cannot easily replace the supply that is missing.
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, recently announced that gas stations would be permitted to sell a cheaper “winter blend” of gas. This produces more of the emissions the state is trying to restrict.
It might not be long before the rest of the country is experiencing the same problems.
