California has nation’s highest gas prices; Fresno costs climbing

California has the most expensive gasoline in the nation, with prices jumping dramatically across the state in the last month.

AAA of Northern California released its monthly gas price report Tuesday. The state’s average price rose 28 cents to $2.77 for a gallon of unleaded. That puts California prices ahead of Hawaii and Alaska, which often are more expensive.

In Fresno, prices rose 43 cents to an average $2.70 a gallon. In the Visalia-Tulare-Porterville area, prices rose 26 cents to $2.64 a gallon.

Valley prices are a contrast to the national average, which was $2.06 a gallon Tuesday, though prices have climbed 33 cents in the last month.

In California, prices are fluctuating as the state switches to a cleaner-burning blend of gasoline for the summer, according to AAA spokeswoman Cynthia Harris.

However, with the restart of ExxonMobil’s Torrance refinery – which had been mostly idle due to an explosion last year – the gasoline market is poised to have plenty of supplies available going into the busy summer driving season, Harris said. That should keep prices steady in coming weeks, as long as there are no other disruptions in supply.

Despite the price hike, Fresno prices still are 40 cents below this time last year.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 11:52 AM with the headline "California has nation’s highest gas prices; Fresno costs climbing."