California Gas Hit $6.19 as Hybrids Gained Share

California gasoline averaged $6.189 per gallon on Sept. 28, up $0.186 from a week earlier and $1.743 higher than a year ago, according to EIA.

The prior week, Sept. 21, averaged $6.003. EIA published the Sept. 28 data in its Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update on September 29, 2026. The next gasoline release is scheduled for October 6, 2026.

Prices varied widely by location. On Sept. 28, San Francisco averaged $6.267 per gallon and Los Angeles averaged $6.165. Florida averaged $4.282. Texas averaged $3.841.

Diesel ran higher. U.S. retail diesel averaged $6.29 per gallon as of Monday, September 14, in EIA's weekly Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, as reported on Sept. 18. For May 2026, EIA listed regular gasoline at $4.48 per gallon at retail and diesel at $5.60.

Two background numbers help explain the pump price. State taxes and fees on gasoline averaged 33.55 cents per gallon as of January 2026, according to EIA. EIA also expects crude oil, the raw oil refined into gasoline, to account for less than 45% of the average retail gasoline price in 2026 and 2027. That outlook appeared Jan. 20. EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook, the federal near-term forecast for supply, demand and prices, was completed September 3, 2026, with a release date of September 9, 2026.

U.S. buyers shifted toward hybrids in 2026. Hybrids reached a peak of 20.3% of the U.S. retail market in 2026, while electric vehicle share dropped to 7.1% in May 2026, according to Reuters. Hybrid sales were up 19% in the first half of 2026 from 2025, according to Omdia, as reported July 1.

Ford reported first-half 2026 results. The company said large SUVs and F-Series drove sales growth in the first half of 2026. Bronco and Maverick Hybrid set sales records in the same period, according to Ford.

Ford had reported on January 6, 2026 that annual U.S. auto sales rose 6%. Hybrid vehicle sales rose nearly 22% to 228,072 units from 187,426 units a year earlier, in its best year ever for hybrids.

The broader context here is a fuel market where crude oil explains less than half the retail price and a vehicle market where fuel economy works like insulation against price swings. High prices that differ by state widen the running-cost gap between powertrains, meaning different engine types. Hybrids appeal to drivers who want lower fuel bills without relying fully on charging stations. Large SUVs and pickups still drive much of Ford's volume, which points to fuel cost shaping choices but not deciding them alone.

Looking ahead for planners, the near-term dates matter. The October 6 fuel update will test whether California's late-September increase extended or reversed. The September Short-Term Energy Outlook provides the current federal baseline for supply, demand and price expectations. For automakers, the question is mix management across gasoline, hybrid and electric offerings as retail shares move quickly within a single model year.