While gas prices drop for nearly everyone in the country, they remain stubbornly high — more than $5 a gallon — in California. If the prices persist, it could mean trouble for Democrats in battleground districts such as the Central Valley.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gas prices are dropping for nearly everyone in the country but remain stubbornly high in California, where state officials are blaming oil companies and reminding voters that relief is on the way in the form of tax rebates scheduled to arrive in weeks.
California’s gas prices are nowhere near the $6 peak seen in June, but are still a source of anger. Rather than suspend the state’s gas tax, which is now up to 53.9 cents per gallon, Democrats this year opted to send $9.5 billion in direct payments to families. Even in a good year, California’s unique gasoline policies make prices more expensive than other parts of the country. The state sets its own car emission standards and requires a specific blend of gasoline that means it can take longer for gas to make its way West in the event California experiences a shortage. So when prices jumped earlier this spring after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many called on the state’s leaders to forgo some regulations and taxes to ease the burden on consumers.
Rendon, in a statement, said he still sees benefits in investigating the industry’s role in setting gas prices. Salas, another moderate, has a history of going against fellow Democrats when it comes to raising gas taxes — and in 2017 lost a committee chair position because of it. He backed Gray’s proposed suspension in May, which he said would have given “working families in the Central Valley a break from these high prices.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As Gasoline Prices Drop, Electricity and Some Heating Costs RiseThe biggest 12-month rise in a U.S. electricity-cost index in at least 41 years, driven by higher natural-gas prices, is increasing consumers’ energy bills even as gasoline prices fall.
Read more »
US inflation still stubbornly high despite August slowdownSharply lower prices for gas and cheaper used cars slowed U.S. inflation in August for a second straight month, though many other items rose in price, indicating that inflation remains a heavy burden for American households. us inflation kprc2 us
Read more »
US inflation slows for 2nd month but remains stubbornly high | amNewYorkU.S. inflation slowed for a second straight month on a sharp fall in gas prices, yet excluding energy most other items got more expensive in August, a sign that inflation remains a heavy burden for American households.
Read more »
‘It masked the full perception.’ Falling gas prices may have skewed expectations for August inflation numbersGas prices fell 10.6% during August. Here’s why it’s not a relief from inflation.
Read more »
Dow drops over 600 points as stocks tumble after hotter-than-expected CPI readingU.S. stock-index futures gave up early gains to turn sharply lower Tuesday after an unexpected monthly rise in the August consumer-price index dashed hopes for a further slowdown in inflation.
Read more »