California: Highest Gasoline Prices in U.S.

California has the highest gasoline prices in the nation.

But those prices are still the lowest in five years. 

Northern California AAA reports the statewide average for unleaded gas is $3.73 a gallon, 63 cents more than a month ago. 

"It may seem like a significant jump, which it is, 63 cents in a month, but when you look at the overall averages, and what we were paying last year, we are still in good shape," said Cynthia Harris with AAA Northern California. 

Harris said prices typically rise before the Memorial Day holiday weekend. 

"We have also had numerous regional refinery issues that have pushed up west coast prices and also the price of crude oil is moving up,” said Harris. 

Harris said high oil production levels in the U.S. and overseas are expected to keep gasoline prices stable, or about where they are now, through the summer.

Harris said Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.62, about 57 cents more than the April AAA survey.     

She said the least expensive average price in Northern California is in Ukiah, at $3.40 per gallon. Eureka's $3.83 per gallon is the highest. 

Harris said the national average for a gallon of unleaded regular gas is $2.66, the lowest price since 2009.