The $8 Gallon Is Here, If You’re Dumb Enough To Pay For It

If you thought gas prices were painful last month, despite being close to their lowest in years, you might want to brace yourself for your next fill. Drivers across the US are seeing pump numbers rocket upward again, and one Los Angeles station has pushed things into full shock territory with a jaw-dropping price of $8.21 per gallon.

Yes, $8. For regular gas. Suddenly, that weekend road trip in your V8 doesn’t sound quite as relaxing, and a Prius, an EV, or just plain old walking, looks mighty appealing.

Related: Gas Just Jumped 11 Cents Overnight, And Drivers Could Be In For More

According to new data, US gas prices have jumped $0.50 on average in the past week, and the statewide average in California has already climbed above $5 per gallon. Los Angeles County now sits around $5.17, while drivers in Orange County are paying roughly $5.15, and those in Riverside County about $5.06. And those numbers moved fast. In LA County alone, the average price jumped about 17 cents almost overnight.

Iran Conflict Drives Prices, But Not Alone

The surge isn’t coming out of nowhere. Oil markets were already creeping upward thanks to the usual seasonal spring demand, but things accelerated sharply after Israel and the US launched an attack on Iran. Global crude prices have since spiked past $110 a barrel, briefly climbing as high as $119.50, their highest levels since the pandemic, as fears grow that the conflict could disrupt energy supplies.

That jaw-dropping $8.21-per-gallon is the reality at a Chevron station in downtown Los Angeles, and despite the price, there were still plenty of people filling up when ABC7 Eyewitness News arrived with its cameras. But the reporters also found fuel hovering just over $4.19 a gallon at a less flashy station a few miles away, proving that bargain hunting is suddenly becoming a survival skill.

Experts say California’s strict fuel regulations, tax structure, and declining in-state refining capacity can also amplify price swings compared with the rest of the US.

National Average Jumps Past $3

Not that other states have missed out on price rises. AAA fuel price data showed the national average for a gallon of regular rose 27 cents to $3.25 as of March 5. Even Oklahoma, whose current $2.972 per gallon average makes it the cheapest state for fill-ups, is feeling some pain: a month ago, that same gallon would have cost $2.322.

Meanwhile, the political temperature is rising along with the pump prices in Pennsylvania. Two state lawmakers have asked the Attorney General to investigate whether recent gas price spikes might involve unfair pricing practices or potential gouging, WPXI reports. Officials say they want to determine if drivers are being charged more than market conditions justify.