Lodi area fuel prices are going up!

Gas prices in San Joaquin County rose sharply in February 2025

Drivers are facing increased costs due to refinery disruptions, seasonal fuel blends, and geopolitical tensions. Here's a detailed breakdown:

Current Pricing Trends

• Stockton-Lodi metro area: Averaged $4.80/gallon as of February 13 – a 6% weekly increase (+$0.27) and 3.8% higher than 2024 levels[2].

• Regional comparison: Nearby Fresno reached $4.76/gallon[2], while California's statewide average hit $4.80 – the nation's highest[1].

Key Drivers of Increases

1. Refinery Disruptions

A February 1 explosion at Martinez Refinery (responsible for 10% of state capacity) forced weeks-long shutdowns, creating immediate supply shortages[1]. Petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan notes this incident alone could sustain price hikes for 4-8 weeks until repairs finish[1].

2. Seasonal Fuel Transition

Refineries began switching to summer gasoline blends on February 11 – a process that typically adds $0.15-$0.25/gallon due to stricter emissions requirements[1].

3. Tariff Uncertainties

A proposed 25% tariff on Canadian/Mexican crude oil imports (pending late February 2025 implementation) has created market volatility. While paused for 30 days on February 13, analysts warn prolonged trade tensions could push California prices $0.50-$0.65 higher[1][3].

Economic Impact

Fresno State economist Dr. Antonio Avalos reports 10-15% reductions in discretionary spending among Central Valley households as fuel costs consume larger budget shares[1]. Uber driver Donna Dunbar's case exemplifies this strain – her daily fill-up costs doubled to $100/day, forcing lifestyle cutbacks[1].

Projected Outlook

Prices may stabilize by late March 2025 if:

• Martinez Refinery resumes operations

• Tariffs are avoided through trade negotiations

• Summer fuel transition concludes by April 1

However, CARB's November 2024 low-carbon fuel standard updates could add long-term regulatory costs of $0.60-$0.65/gallon through 2026[3], suggesting sustained high prices even after immediate crises pass[3].

Today’s prices in Lodi and surrounding cities show $.40+ increase per gallon as shown below:

Feb 17,2025 local fuel prices from Lodi411.com

Monthly Fuel Prices for the past 12 months.

Sources

[1] Gas prices up 17 cents this week in Fresno https://abc30.com/post/gas-prices-17-cents-week-fresno/15889791/

[2] How Gas Prices Have Changed in California in the Last Week https://stacker.com/stories/california/how-gas-prices-have-changed-california-last-week

[3] Crazies in Climateland Vote to Increase CA Gas Prices by 65¢ per gallon https://californiaglobe.com/fl/crazies-in-climateland-vote-to-increase-ca-gas-prices-by-60%C2%A2-per-gallon/

[4] Gas prices on the rise across California: AAA https://news.yahoo.com/news/gas-prices-rise-across-california-200110316.html

[5] California Braces for Higher Gas Prices https://www.californiacitynews.org/2024/11/california-braces-higher-gas-prices.html