New Study Refutes Newsom’s Charge of Big Oil ‘Price Gouging’

New Study Refutes Newsom’s Charge of Big Oil ‘Price Gouging’
A sign shows gasoline fuel prices at a Shell gas station in Los Angeles on Oct. 5, 2023. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
John Seiler
Updated:
Commentary

Californians pay the highest prices for gasoline at the pump. Why? Quick summary: A new study finds the state price is on average $1.20 above the national average. Of that, only around 40 cents per gallon derives from higher crude oil prices and refinery costs, charged by the Big Oil companies. The bulk of the higher cost, about 80 cents, comes from state taxes, environmental regulatory costs, and other fees.

John Seiler
John Seiler
Author
John Seiler is a veteran California opinion writer. Mr. Seiler has written editorials for The Orange County Register for almost 30 years. He is a U.S. Army veteran and former press secretary for California state Sen. John Moorlach. He blogs at JohnSeiler.Substack.com and his email is [email protected]