The state of California broke the all-time record for the highest average price for gas on Monday.
The average price of gas in California hit $4.682 per gallon, breaking the record of $4.671 that had been set in October 2012, CNN reported. The national average also rose to $3.415 Monday.
California gas prices hit an average price of $4.676 Sunday, setting the highest recorded average price for regular gasoline, according to AAAhttps://t.co/aRnTqD68rn
— KTLA (@KTLA) November 14, 2021
Heavy rainstorms in the state have reduced production capacity, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). “It’s a bit of a supply crunch we have right now, there’s nothing major, until the refineries in Northern California can get back up to full production capacity,” said Jeffrey Spring, Corporate Communications Manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California. (RELATED: ‘A National Security Issue’: Republicans Take Aim At Democrats Over Rising Gas Prices, Energy Costs)
Prices are nearing $5 per gallon in some areas of the state. The average price in Northern California’s Humboldt County was $4.97 Monday, CNN reported.
The price of gas in Gorda, California, hit $7.59 per gallon in October.
U.S. oil prices have increased by over 65% in 2021 and oil production is 14% less than it was at the end of 2019, CNN reported.
President Joe Biden blamed skyrocketing gas prices on Russia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in early November. He said that they are refusing to “pump more oil.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that higher gas prices make an “even stronger case for doubling down our investment and our focus on clean energy options.” However, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo has blamed high gas prices on the global shift to renewable energy.