Drivers in South San Francisco got a nasty surprise Tuesday when a local station posted $6.89 for a gallon of regular, a number so high that plenty of motorists simply kept rolling. The eye-popping total lands as statewide averages climb above $5.80, leaving some workers shelling out hundreds of dollars just to keep their trucks on the road. Officials and fuel analysts are pointing to global oil disruptions as the immediate spark, while budget-conscious drivers are hunting for anything cheaper within a few blocks.
One Shell Station Becomes Ground Zero
According to KTVU, the price board lighting up social media sits at the Shell station at 248 S. Airport Boulevard. One local driver told reporters it cost him about $300 to fill his truck at those prices. The station’s corporate listing backs up the address and hours, but many motorists say they are steering clear, opting to drive past the high-priced pumps in favor of cheaper stations nearby.
Why Prices Spiked and Who Gets Squeezed
AAA’s daily dashboard pegs the national average at about $3.98 and California’s average at roughly $5.82 as of today, according to AAA. Analysts and national coverage tie the spike to the war in Iran and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, which are pushing up crude and wholesale fuel costs, AP reports. Those increases are now working their way down to the corner station. Economists say lower and middle-income households are likely to feel the most pressure, since they spend a bigger share of their income just getting to work and running errands.
How Drivers Can Dodge the Worst Prices
The state watchdog is urging Californians to "shop around and compare prices" and to flag suspected gouging to the Energy Commission, which lists its complaint channels in the enforcement bulletin. Drivers can lean on price-tracking apps and AAA’s fuel dashboard to zero in on cheaper stations before heading out. For plenty of Bay Area commuters, the short-term strategy is straightforward: ignore the sky-high sign and roll a little farther down the road until the numbers look less painful.
