Business & Tech

Gas Guide: A Nickel Here, A Nickel There

Gas prices jumped five cents in the past week. It's a trend that may last through the summer.

If you don't like gasoline prices right now, just wait until July 4th.

The price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline went up about a nickel in most places in the East Bay this past week.

Don't expect that trend to change anytime soon.

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Cynthia Harris, a spokeswoman for the California State Automobile Association, said most analysts expect gasoline prices to continue to rise through the summer.

She said the unrest in the Middle East is one factor. Libya, for example, has reduced oil production by 90 percent, limiting the supply of gasoline.

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In addition, Japan will now need more fossil fuels because of the shutdown of its nuclear power plants. That will increase demand.

"I think you'll see a lot of families in California discouraged from taking three road trips this summer," said Harris.

That was the financial pain being felt at the Chevron station at Ygnacio Valley Road and San Carlos Drive in Walnut Creek.

The price for regular unleaded had risen from $3.99 to $4.05 a gallon in less than a week.

Ryan Hoff, an Orinda resident, had stopped there to fill up while on his way to his outside sales job in Concord.

Hoff said there are 40 sales representatives at his office who have gas cards and the rising price is eating into his company's coffers.

The firm recently lowered the monthly ceiling on gas allowance from $500 to $300. That means some reps are paying for gas out of their own pockets.

"It really has put a damper on us," he said.

At another pump, Clarence Rollins was filling up after driving from Fremont to his job in Walnut Creek.

Rollins said he usually checks Internet sites for the cheapest gas, but he pulled into this Chevron on this morning because he suddenly realized his gas gauge was pointing toward empty.

The price for a gallon of regular unleaded in California has risen to $3.97. That is an increase of 6 cents from a week ago.

A check of prices on gasbuddy.com and gasprices.mapquest.com shows prices, even at some of the cheapest stations, have risen slightly throughout the East Bay.

One of the cheapest is the Abe gas station at Mission and Tamarack in Union City. As of March 17, it was selling regular unleaded for $3.83 a gallon.

A Quik Stop at Grove Way Cape Eden Place in Castro Valley shows up at $3.85 a gallon.

Castro Valley continues to have some of the lower prices along the 580-680 corridor. Ten stations are listed there between $3.85 and $3.95 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

Most stations in the region have prices between $3.99 and $4.06 a gallon.

However, there are a few higher than that and most of them are Chevron stations.

A Chevron at First Street and South N Street in Livermore has gas for $4.09 a gallon. Across town, a gallon at Livermore Gas on Catalina is listed at $4.15.

That price is topped by the Marina Food Mart on Orchard Avenue in San Leandro. They're selling regular unleaded for $4.19 a gallon.

In San Ramon, the Chevron at Camino Ramon and Fosteria in San Ramon is listed at $4.09 a gallon. So is the Chevron at North Main Street and Parkside Drive in Walnut Creek.


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