PHOENIX — If you feel like you are paying California-type gas prices at the pump lately, it's because in the Phoenix area, you probably are.
According to AAA, the average gas price in the Phoenix metro is about $4.79 a gallon. That's only 10 cents less than the California state average of $4.89 a gallon.
AAA also reports that Scottsdale residents are paying more than California residents on average. Scottsdale residents are currently paying about $4.95 a gallon as of Friday.
Today's AAA Average gas prices for a gallon of regular:
— The AZ - abc15 - Data Guru (@Garrett_Archer) April 14, 2023
Los Angeles: $4.94
Scottsdale: $4.95
Statewide, the average gas price in Arizona $4.54 a gallon.
RELATED: Find the cheapest gas prices in your neighborhood by clicking here.
In the last month, gas prices in California and Arizona have been trending in different directions.
California's gas prices have stayed relatively flat, dropping about 2 cents in the last month.
Arizona, on the other hand, has seen prices skyrocket. The average gas price at this time last month was $3.95 a gallon, meaning prices have jumped almost 60 cents.
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, previously told ABC15 Arizona is one of a few states that has three different types of blends required during the month of March, as opposed to other states that have one or two.
He says politicians have put these requirements in place in an effort to keep our air cleaner. In return, our state is divided into five areas with three different types of required gas.
De Haan says that restricts the flow of supply at a time when there is less gas available because refineries are doing maintenance before the summer driving season.
RELATED: Why is gas in Arizona so high? Arizona faces unique challenges that make prices higher
Also what could be playing a role in our soaring gas prices is OPEC production.
The intergovernmental organization announced earlier this month that they would be cutting production by over a million barrels a day starting in May.
Gas prices nationwide have jumped 17 cents in the last month.
At the end of 2022, Gasbuddy.com average trends for Phoenix were a full dollar cheaper than Los Angeles.
Since then, Phoenix prices have increased 44% and are now just $0.13 cheaper than L.A. at $4.77. In this time frame, L.A. gas prices increased 12% and the US average rose 20%.
There are multiple reasons for the recent spike in prices but the major factor is the type of gas required in the Valley during the summer season.
Maricopa County has some of the worst air quality in the country and requires the most expensive type of summer blend.
That gas is produced in refineries in southern California. In January, those refineries were producing gasoline meant for export to Las Vegas and Phoenix close to their five-year highs. By mid-February production fell near or below five-year lows.
The good news is production began ramping up again in April, hopefully stemming the current rise in Gas Prices.
ABC15 analyzed over 500 gas stations in the Valley using data from GasBuddy.com.
Most stations reported prices between $4.69 and $4.98. This group accounted for 65% of stations. About 18% of stations priced their gas above $4.99 and 17% of stations were between $4.39 and $4.69.
