Right now, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas in Sacramento is $4.10. Diesel prices are about 30-cents more. Analysts say it's because the demand for diesel is on the rise.
"Diesel sees additional use in winter. It's generally made from the same petroleum, the same area of the barrel, that heating oil is made from."
Patrick DeHaan is with Gas Buddy
- a gas-price tracking firm. He points out that people in the
northeast use heating oil in the winter and that drives up diesel
prices. Gas prices typically fall below diesel prices at the end of
the summer driving season.
Meanwhile, DeHaan says last month's fire at the Richmond
Chevron Refinery is still inflating prices.
"If that problem wouldn't have happened I believe
Sacramento prices would probably be under $4.00 a
gallon."
DeHaan says he doesn't expect prices to fluctuate much in the
next week.
