California drivers could finally get some relief at the pump next month after weeks of punishing price hikes sent the statewide average above $6 a gallon.
Prices across the Golden State have jumped 19 cents in just one week, bringing the average price for a gallon of regular to $6.08 as of Thursday, according to AAA.
The pain has been even worse in parts of the Bay Area, where prices climbed 20 cents in San Jose and 21 cents in San Francisco over the same seven-day stretch, KRON4 reported.
Solano County was the only Bay Area county still below the statewide average, with regular gasoline averaging $6.03 per gallon Thursday.
But drivers could finally catch a break by the end of October, when California switches from its more expensive summer-blend gasoline to the winter blend.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told the outlet the seasonal change could knock 10 to 30 cents off the price per gallon.
The potential relief comes after Californians have endured a brutal year at the pump.
The statewide average has surged $1.43 over the past year, while diesel has soared by $3.18 to a record $8.35 per gallon.
Prices could continue climbing before the winter-blend switch, with De Haan warning that much depends on developments in the Middle East and around the Strait of Hormuz.
“It’s really more contingent on whether or not we’ll continue to see the pace of escalations that have contributed to the faster pace,” De Haan said.
“If there’s new Houthis attacks, if there’s more escalations then yes, prices could continue to accelerate at this pace.”
The diesel surge could also hit Californians well beyond the gas station, with higher transportation costs eventually filtering down to the price of everyday goods.
“Everything moves toward the retail channel through distribution and supply chains with diesel,” De Haan told KRON4. “Generally speaking, from tractors to trucks and trains, diesel drives the U.S. economy, so it’s very impactful.”
Those costs could take several weeks or months to reach shoppers, potentially creating a fresh headache during the holiday shopping season.
“What businesses are paying now will probably affect retail prices in the next month or two,” De Haan said. “So, definitely by Christmas, there’s going to be a bit of sticker shock.”
Meat and produce could be among the most affected because they need to be delivered quickly, while manufacturers of products including furniture and appliances could absorb some of the increased costs rather than risk losing sales.
For motorists, though, the looming switch to winter-blend gasoline offers at least some hope after weeks of soaring prices—with GasBuddy estimating savings of up to 30 cents per gallon.
