Community Corner

A Nickel Here, A Nickel There: Gas Prices Likely to Keep Rising Through Summer

In Castro Valley, make that a dime. Stations near the freeway can differ as much as 10 cents from those farther away.

If you don't like gasoline prices right now, just wait until July 4.

The price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline went up about a nickel in most places in the East Bay this past week.

Don't expect that trend to change anytime soon.

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cynthia Harris, a spokeswoman for the California State Automobile Association, said most analysts expect gasoline prices to continue to rise through the summer.

She said the unrest in the Middle East is one factor. Libya, for example, has reduced oil production by 90 percent, limiting the supply of gasoline.

Find out what's happening in Castro Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In addition, Japan will now need more fossil fuels because of the shutdown of its nuclear power plants. That will increase demand.

"I think you'll see a lot of families in California discouraged from taking three road trips this summer," said Harris.

The price for a gallon of regular unleaded in California has risen to $3.97. That is an increase of 6 cents from a week ago.

A check of prices on gasbuddy.com and gasprices.mapquest.com shows prices, even at some of the cheapest stations, have risen slightly throughout the East Bay.

Castro Valley continues to have some of the lower prices along the 580-680 corridor. Ten stations are listed there between $3.85 and $3.95 for a gallon of regular unleaded.

A Quik Stop at Grove Way and Cape Eden Place in Castro Valley shows up at $3.85 a gallon.

Most stations in the East Bay have prices between $3.99 and $4.06 a gallon.

One of the cheapest is the Abe gas station at Mission and Tamarack in Union City. It is selling regular unleaded for $3.83 a gallon.

An Arco station at Boone Court and San Ramon Valley Boulevard in Danville is listed at $3.84 a gallon.

However,  a few are higher than that and most of them are Chevron stations.

A Chevron at First Street and South N Street in Livermore has gas for $4.09 a gallon. Across town, a gallon at Livermore Gas on Catalina is listed at $4.15.

That price is topped by the Marina Food Mart on Orchard Avenue in San Leandro. They're selling regular unleaded for $4.19 a gallon.


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