California Gas Prices Climb Higher

Higher crude oil prices and refinery problems pumped California’s average price of regular self-serve unleaded gasoline to $1.59 per gallon for the week ended Monday, according to the California Energy Commission. The week before, the average price was nearly $1.46 per gallon. The average unleaded price has jumped almost 48 cents per gallon in the last six weeks. Prices are likely to inch lower soon because of imported supplies and higher refinery production, a commission spokesman said. A year ago, the average price in California was about $1.09. The national retail price for unleaded gasoline jumped 3.6 cents in the last week, averaging almost $1.12 a gallon, the Energy Department said. Oil prices have been rising because of an agreement two weeks ago by major oil-producing countries to reduce exports. Gasoline prices also tend to rise in the spring in anticipation of the summer driving season.