Mike Netter, vice chair of Rebuild California, said that gasoline prices in the state are 52% higher than the national average, with Northern California experiencing the highest costs. He made this statement on his social media platform on February 24.
"Price jumps are widespread throughout the entire state, but Northern California is being hit the hardest," said Netter. "Average cost ranging from $5.09 to $5.21 per gallon."
As of 2025, GasBuddy reports that California has the highest average regular gas price at $4.735 per gallon. In contrast, Texas's average is significantly lower at $2.694 per gallon, marking a difference of nearly $2.04. New Mexico's average stands at $2.893 per gallon, approximately $0.20 higher than Texas. Mississippi records the lowest gas price at $2.628 per gallon, while Washington sees a slight increase by $0.02.
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In California, about 75% of workers commute by car with an average one-way commute time of 28 minutes. With gas prices averaging $4.68 per gallon as of November 2024, these costs significantly affect commuters, particularly those with low incomes. For instance, employees earning $15 per hour may spend around 9% of their monthly income on fuel, highlighting the financial burden posed by rising gas prices according to Aston Carter.
The Insurance Journal indicates that rising insurance costs due to litigation abuse in California are compounding issues for small businesses already grappling with high gas prices. Auto insurance presents a significant challenge as many insurers withdraw from the market, leading to scarce and expensive policies. To manage these challenges, businesses are increasing deductibles and reducing excess coverage while limited options and soaring premiums threaten transport-dependent and high-risk industries.
Netter, formerly an executive at Staples and now a leader in conservative activism in California, has been instrumental in efforts such as the Gavin Newsom recall and mobilizing volunteers statewide to raise awareness according to Rebuild California's website.
