In South Los Angeles, a Valero station at Manchester Avenue has gas going for $3.81 a gallon. The catch? All of the pumps were closed as of Friday night, as the station is undergoing repairs. Just across the street, a Chevron station had gas for $4.35 a gallon.
The average price of unleaded gas in Los Angeles is $4.25, up 24 cents from last week. Part of that is due the Mobil station on Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, where gas is posting at $5.21 per gallon, making it one of the most expensive gas stations in the country.
The cheapest gas in the country can be found in fort Collins, Colo., where gas is just $2.94 a gallon.
Such a difference between states is due to where crude is purchased. Refineries on the coasts are buying more expensive crude from Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, while inland states are getting cheaper crude from Canada and North Dakota. California also has stricter environmental regulations and a higher gas tax than most states.
