Gasoline price taxes and fees, and the lack of refineries, have more than offset the sharp drop of crude, at least throughout most of California. Of the 15 cities in the United States with the highest average price for a gallon of regular, 13 are in California. If lower gas prices can help a recovery in the consumer economy, California has a distinct disadvantage

According to GasBuddy, the price of gas in Los Angeles is $3.555, in Ventura $3.523, in Santa Barbara $3.504 and in Orange County $3.479. In San Diego it is $3.467, in San Bernardino $3.443, Riverside $3.441, Bakersfield $3.370, San Francisco $3.322, Fresno $3.197, Oakland $3.179, Salinas $3.169 and San Jose $3.157. Anchorage has a price of $3.253, while Las Vegas, only a short drive from the California border, has a price of $3.190.

Alaskan drivers suffer from the fact that while the state exports a great amount of crude, it must go hundreds of miles into the continental United States to be refined and then shipped back as gasoline. Among all the states, Alaska has the highest average price for a gallon of regular at $3.345, followed by California at $3.336.

The American Petroleum Institute reports that as of July 1, gas taxes and levees were at the fourth highest level among all states at $0.6075 per gallon.

With gas prices falling well below $2.50 nationwide, and $2 in some cities, many of the nation’s drivers will get annual gas price breaks that could save them hundreds of dollars. In California, gas prices are an economic headwind. Since California has by far the largest number of drivers among all states, consumers lack a critical advantage.

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