California’s Fourth of July gas prices will drain your wallet even more this year

Californians hitting the road for the Fourth of July holiday will be forced to fork over nearly a dollar more for a gallon of gas than last Independence Day.

As of Thursday, the average price of regular gas in the state stood at a whopping $5.40 per gallon — compared to just $4.57 a year ago, according to data from the American Automobile Association.

To make matters worse, California increased its gas tax just ahead of the holiday per a state law mandating inflation-adjusted increases. The state’s excise tax on gasoline, at 61.2 cents per gallon, surged to 63.4 cents per gallon on July 1.

Golden State gas prices stand far ahead of the national average of $3.84 per gallon. California currently has the second highest gas prices in the nation, sitting only behind Hawaii, according to AAA.

The prices have infuriated cash-strapped drivers.

“I felt like I was really starting to catch a breath, you know, it was going down, and I didn’t know about this,” a driver named Zuli, who just paid $60 to fill up at a Los Angeles station, told The California Post of the tax. “It would be helpful if it wasn’t gonna be going up all the time.”

Some California counties are seeing even higher prices. The average cost per gallon in Mono County, which sits at the California-Nevada border, stood at a shocking $6.70 on Thursday.

In the Los Angeles-Long Beach area, prices on average sat at $5.41 per gallon, up nearly a dollar from a year ago. San Francisco residents are paying on average $5.58 when they fill up, much more than the $4.80 a year ago.

Gas prices across the nation shot up due to the war in Iran, which has constrained global oil supply.

But California’s policies exacerbated the situation, experts said, due to its higher-than-average taxes and fees as well as state Democrats’ green policies that have discouraged domestic oil production.

“When there are fewer refineries operating, that means supply is tight,” AAA spokesperson Kandace Redd said.

Redd also noted that increased seasonal demand during the spring and summer also contribute to higher prices.

All these factors have meant that Californians have seen record-breaking numbers for fuel costs this year. In late March, for example, diesel reached a statewide average of $7.45 — the highest ever recorded.

One couple, Paulina and Thomas, told the Post they’re taking a hit from the high prices.

“It’s not good. It’s not good for us. Not good for the traveler, and not good for the one who lives there,” they said while filling up in LA. “We’ve been to Utah, to Arizona, to Nevada, to Oregon and Washington, and California is the most expensive.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has consistently blamed President Trump and the war in Iran for the spike.

“For 2 years, average gas prices never reached $5/gallon … then Trump started his war with Iran with no plan — putting gas around the globe at risk!” Newsom’s office said.

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