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Californians Pay About $11 More Per Tank of Gas Than Rest of U.S.

A consumers group says Californians pay a penalty at the gas pump. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce explains.

Californians Pay About $11 More Per Tank of Gas Than Rest of U.S.

A consumers group says Californians pay a penalty at the gas pump. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce explains.

The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights says there's a big gap between crude oil prices and gasoline prices. And a much wider oil-to-gasoline gap in California than the rest of the nation. Foundation research director Judy Dugan.

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Dugan : There was some widening last year as hit last year's record prices. And now this year as we hit new record prices, we're finding that we're getting these enormous run-ups in price even though the price of crude oil is lower than it was last year.

She says we're paying from $7 to $15 more per fill-up than the rest of the country. Dugan says oil companies need to increase gasoline supplies to the West Coast. She says a refinery fire or other disruption could push California gas prices to one dollar above the national average. The report, called “A Mountain of Difference,” was prepared by oil analyst Tim Hamilton.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.