If you've noticed higher gas prices in the Sacramento region, you're not alone. The average gas price in the Sacramento area could hit the $4 mark in the next week.
Prices statewide are predicted to increase 10 to 15 cents, said industry analyst Dan McTeague with gas price tracking firm GasBuddy.
"Which means, of course, here in Sacramento we'll see a very similar increase,” he said.
Right now, the average in the region is $3.87 — up nearly 18 cents from last week and 63 cents from a month ago. The last time Sacramento-area prices were this high in April was in 2014.
"Compared to this time last year, [it’s] 45 cents a gallon higher,” McTeague said. “And so this is really starting to hurt and I suspect it may cause some of us to rethink our traveling plans over the next several weeks."
McTeague said one reason prices are surging is because of refinery outages in the Bay Area and Southern California.
"They often have significant 'flaring,' basically meaning something's gone wrong," he said.
On top of that, refineries are beginning the gradual transition from winter fuel to a cleaner-burning summer gasoline.
“Two situations that have occurred that are really contributing to these higher prices and have led, here in Sacramento and across the state, to record prices we haven't seen going back to July of 2015,” McTeague said. "And unfortunately, it doesn't look like there's any immediate relief on the horizon."
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