Drivers around the Bay Area are seeing a little relief at the pump, though not much. California's average price for a gallon of regular fell 6 cents over the past week to $6.34, according to AAA figures released Oct. 9.
The Bay Area remains among the priciest places to fill up in the state. AAA put San Francisco's average at $6.52, Oakland at $6.41 and San Jose at $6.33. Contra Costa County averaged $6.37, down from $6.42 a week earlier.
Still a record for October
The small drop does not make this a normal fall. "Gas prices remain the highest they've ever been for this time of year," AAA Mountain West Group spokesperson Doug Johnson said, adding that this is the first year the national average has been above $4 a gallon in October. The national average fell 5 cents to $4.36.
The climb has been steep. Contra Costa's average was $4.31 in mid-December 2025 and $4.23 in early January, according to AAA's weekly tracking. It passed $6 in May, eased to the mid-$5 range over the summer, and then jumped again in September, reaching $6.42 on Oct. 2.
Why prices are high, and why they're slipping
Global oil supply is the biggest factor. AAA said crude dipped into the $80-a-barrel range for several days before climbing back above $90, pointing to volatility around the Strait of Hormuz. It also flagged Hurricane Isaias as a possible risk if it disrupts oil production or refineries.
California added its own lever in late September. With the statewide average at $6.37, just 7 cents below the all-time record of $6.44, Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended the summer-blend gasoline requirement and allowed winter-blend fuel to be made, imported and sold early, NBC Bay Area reported. Winter blend is cheaper to produce, but savings arrive only as stations sell through their summer stock.
At the time, some San Jose stations were charging more than $7 for regular, and San Francisco's average of $6.56 was about 8 cents from its own record, according to NBC Bay Area.
Caroline Chen, a professor at San Jose State University's Lucas College of Business, told the station the state can't control what a barrel of crude costs but can control its own rules. She said a gas tax holiday was possible, though it would cost the state excise tax revenue. Newsom has not proposed one.
What it means for you
Further drops depend largely on the oil market. In the meantime, AAA suggests using regular unless your car requires premium, keeping tires properly inflated and avoiding long idling. If you drive electric, California's average for public charging was 47 cents per kilowatt hour, compared with 41 cents nationally.