After four months of falling prices, the average price for a
gallon of gasoline in California has jumped up 13 cents in the last
week, and gas stations in Hollister have followed suit.
Hollister – After four months of falling prices, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in California has jumped up 13 cents in the last week, and gas stations in Hollister have followed suit.
“Gas prices tend to rise in January,” said Sean Comey, a spokesman for AAA of Northern California. “Refineries often shut down for routine maintenance this time of year, cutting supplies.”
Gasoline prices are also increasing throughout the nation as the price of crude oil rises, Comey said. Oil was being traded Thursday at about $63 per barrel, but the price for crude oil had generally been below the $60 a barrel mark for the last few months, Comey said.
“That appears to be the driving force behind the increase,” he said. “But it’s not always easy to tell – all the different elements along the supply chain tend to blame each other for high prices.”
Gasoline prices increase 2.5 cents per gallon every time the price of a barrel of crude oil goes up one dollar, Comey said.
Joe Hippler, manger of the Quick Stop gas station in Hollister, knows that many customers have noticed the upward trend.
“I haven’t really heard any complaints though,” he said Thursday. “People have to pay the price because they have to go to work.”
But Hippler is hoping he won’t have to raise his prices again.
“As long as nothing happens, like no earthquakes or hurricanes, prices should stay pretty steady,” he said. “Some people still notice the changes, but few say anything.”
Hollister resident Jason Arballo is one of those people. Arballo said he started to notice the change in Hollister prices after Christmas.
“Prices started creeping up right after the holidays,” he said while filling up his Ford pickup with $40 worth of gasoline on Thursday. “But I still have to drive. I just hope they go down before summer and everyone starts taking vacations.”
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com.
