Gasoline prices on Friday made Californians wince as they filled up their cars.
Yet a great number of Californians are shrugging as residents of a state with historically high gas prices.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average Californian driver pays more than $5 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), more than a third more than a year ago.
According to a Yahoo report, This is due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that has sent world oil prices soaring.
“It’s going to affect the prices,” Mike Hernandez said to AFP.
“I’m not really into politics or anything like that, but now that this thing is going on between Russia and Ukraine, it’s just that sad.”
The invasion of neighboring Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent financial markets into meltdown.
As sanctions cut off Moscow from the global economy, crude oil prices have been hit hard, and they have risen over $110 a barrel. Players are worried about the impact on Russian supplies.
Despite the fact that gasoline is available in all countries, subsidies or taxes imposed locally drastically affect the final price.
Fuel, for instance, is subsidized in oil-producing Nigeria, where the official price is 40 US cents per liter.
Economist Intelligence Unit estimates that Hong Kong drivers paid $2.50 per liter for gasoline in 2021.
AAA says that Americans typically pay $1 per liter, and even California’s $1.34 per liter is lower than what Europeans pay.
“It’s expensive but it’s always been more expensive here in California, so I guess we’re used to it,” Harry Lee said as he filled up in Los Angeles on Friday morning.
“I’ll be happy when it goes down but so far it doesn’t impact me too much,” he continued.
“My cousin, who drives for Uber here in LA, is complaining a lot though. I guess it can be hard on him if gas remains at this level for too long.”
In California, gas prices are relatively high because of state taxes and stricter refinery standards intended to minimize air pollution during the summer months.
The news reports of the war in Ukraine have caused some people to be willing to put up with higher fuel prices despite drivers grumbling about pump prices rising almost daily.
“I would rather have high gas prices here than an authoritarian regime in the Ukraine,” says Los Angeles resident Jacqueline St-Anne.
“If we have to suffer with a little bit of inflation and gas prices for a while to assure that such a wonderful country as Ukraine has an opportunity to develop its democracy, we should do that.”
Those who don’t want to pay through the nose have a simple option.
“I just bought a Tesla,” Matthew Reynl said.
“That’s my solution to the gas prices going up.”
