Issue 21 · MAY 18, 2026 · CA
California Gas Pain Spotlight — Week of May 18, 2026
California drivers paid $5.96/gal (week of 2026-05-18, +32.7% vs national). Ranked #1 of 50.
PumpPain Data How we compile these All 50 states
12-week trend
+$1.48 over 12 weeks
Where California sits
50 states, ranked by price — California highlighted.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly retail series + PADD regional fallback for non-tracked states. Week of May 18, 2026.
California Gas Pain Spotlight
Week of 2026-05-18 · Source: EIA CA state weekly retail
For the week of 2026-05-18, drivers in California paid $5.96/gal — ranked #1 of 50. That’s 32.7% above the national average of $4.49/gal.
What it costs to fill up
A 15-gallon tank at California prices ran $89.36. A 26-gallon truck tank cost $154.88.
Where California sits
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| State avg | $5.96 |
| National avg | $4.49 |
| Difference | +32.7% |
| State rank | #1 of 50 |
| Data source | EIA state weekly retail |
See full California prices →
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