Community Corner

Gas Prices Still Falling, Customers Still Grumbling

Last year at this time, regular unleaded was selling here for $3.17 a gallon, according to a California State Automobile Association website.

The Fourth of July holiday came and went and gasoline prices continued their unusual summer decline.

In the East Bay, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is now $3.76. That's 5 cents cheaper than last week and 23 cents cheaper than a month ago.

Last year at this time, regular unleaded was selling here for $3.17 a gallon, according to a California State Automobile Association website.

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

In Castro Valley, prices are as much as 11 cents lower than the East Bay average, ranging from $3.65 to $3.75, according to www.californiagasprices.com.

The most expensive station in the East Bay listed on that site is the Chevron station at Camino Ramon and Fostoria Way in San Ramon. Unleaded regular is listed at $4.09 a gallon.

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

In California, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $3.78. That's 4 cents less than a week ago and 22 cents cheaper than last month. Last year at this time, gas was $3.14 a gallon.

Nationally, the average price remains at $3.56. That's the same as last week and 22 cents lower than a month ago. In July 2010, it was $2.72 a gallon.

The cheapest price in the East Bay on the gas buddy website is $3.44 a gallon at the Costco in Livermore. The Quik Stop and the Gas and Shop on North Vasco Road in Livermore are next, both selling regular unleaded for $3.49 a gallon.

The drop in price, however, wasn't appeasing at least some of the customers there.

"I think it sucks. This isn't the Soviet Union or England. This is the United States," said "Duke," a San Jose resident driving home from his daughter's Independence Day celebration in the Sierra foothills.

Duke, who spent $70 filling up his truck, blamed the economy as well as the Iraq war for the high fuel prices.

He said the United States needs to use more oil from the wells it currently has in Oklahoma and Texas to reduce the amount of imported oil.

At a nearby island, Ashley Johnson was pumping $40 worth of gas into her Mustang GT.

She said she's relieved fuel prices have dropped, but she still thinks they're too high.

Johnson, who was driving home to Mountain House from her job at a fitness center in Pleasanton, said she hasn't changed her driving habits.

Her Mustang gets only 13 miles per gallon, but she loves the vehicle too much to give it up.

Johnson might be the exception. Motorists in the United States have been using less and less gas over the past two months. Analysts say that is one of the reasons for the recent decline in price.


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