Californians feeling less pain at the pump with decreasing gas prices
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - According to AAA, El Centro's gas prices have gone down 48 cents since last month's peak and throughout California, the average gas prices have declined by 53 cents.
In June 2022, El Centro's gas prices were averaged at $6.18 and as of today, prices are now averaging $5.70.
One Heber resident Hector Mora, says it's good that prices are going down but they could be lower.
"Because at the beginning of this administration, we're still a dollar over I think," says Mora. "But they should still be becoming lower because we have the capability of producing it."
Mora says his whole commute and day to day activities changed due to high gas prices.
"I watch where I go and if I'm going anywhere I try to incorporate more than one thing. If I don't then I don't go nowhere," says Mora. "I got to do at least three different things before I even drive and that's not taking into consideration when I go visit my boys in San Diego."
California's highest recorded peak price according to AAA is $6.43 on June 14 2022.
As of now, the current average price is $5.87.
As we're no where near close to what prices were a year ago, averaging at $4.32, there's hope that Californians may get some relief at the pump.
According to Aldo Vasquez of AAA, the main reason for the decline in gas prices is because demand is going down.
"So, there’s not a lot of people fueling up right now and the price of crude oil has also gone down it’s now in the mid-90s, which is down from what it was about two weeks ago at $110 per barrel," says Vasquez. "At its highest, we were seeing it at $130 per barrel."
He says when it comes to gas prices, counties can have certain specifications for the kind of air qualities that they're they're trying to get to and many factors go into fuel pricing.
"So they may have certain additives that can be added to the gasoline and so that plays a role in the pricing for gasoline and that's one of the reasons why you see some counties have higher prices than others, also transportation costs, marketing costs," Vasquez explains. "All those things play a key role in the pricing for gasoline, as well as proximity to pipelines and refineries."
According to one Mexicali resident, Eduardo Rodriguez, gas is still high compared to Mexico.
"I work over here and then cross back," says Rodriguez. "Get enough gas to make it back and just fill up in Mexicali, way cheaper."
He says gas prices are about $3.50 a gallon in Mexicali and won't drive as often anymore in California.
"We're getting there, we'll see what happens in a few weeks," Rodriguez says.
Though it looks like we're in a good place right now with the pump prices slowly declining, AAA says it depends on the overall cost of crude oil and the global economy if prices will continue to decrease.
