California Gasoline Nears Record High as Newsom Releases Winter Blend Early

California's statewide average price for regular gasoline reached $6.37 to $6.38 per gallon, within cents of its all-time record. Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order suspending summer fuel regulations to allow cheaper winter-blend gasoline into the market ahead of schedule. Prices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles have exceeded $6.40 to $7 per gallon, with a full tank often costing more than $100. Los Angeles diesel prices approached $8.40 per gallon, straining commuters and families. Analysts attribute the surge to geopolitical conflict, disrupted crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S.-Iran tensions and attacks on Russian refineries, compounded by California's strict fuel standards, limited refining capacity and fuel taxes. GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said winter blend could reach the market in five to 10 days, potentially cutting prices 15 to 25 cents per gallon, depending on crude markets.