Wholesale Gasoline Prices Could Rise First, Consumer Prices Next

Following last week’s fire at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, motorists across Southern California could see gasoline prices edge higher in the days ahead, analysts say.

The El Segundo complex, California’s second-largest refinery, supplies roughly 20% of the region’s motor gasoline and about 40% of its jet fuel. Disruptions at a plant of that size typically push wholesale prices up first, with retail increases showing up at the pump a few days later.

As of Monday, Oct. 6, average prices had not jumped markedly. Los Angeles County posted an average of $4.72 per gallon, according to AAA, with most Southern California counties registering only modest day-to-day movement. Any sharper rise will depend on the duration of the ref

See Full Page