Have you enjoyed falling gas prices in Merced? Here’s why that may not last

California drivers paid about a cent less for gas this week compared to last week, continuing a month-long trend of falling gas prices on the West Coast, according to AAA.

Motorists in the state paid an average of $2.93 per gallon for unleaded regular gas, which was down from $3.05 compared to the same time last month, AAA said. The state’s average remains significantly lower at $2.26.

California prices have been falling for weeks, but national prices rose this week, which could signal more expensive fuel for the West Coast, according to Mike Blasky, spokesman for AAA Northern California.

“It’s rare to see California prices fall as prices in other states spike,” Blasky said.

Merced-area fuels prices fall in between the state and national averages. Prices range from $2.61 to $2.99, according to fuel-price tracker GasBuddy.com. Los Banos’ cheapest gas was 8 cents more expensive than Merced’s.

Turlock’s prices ranked lower, ranging from $2.47 to $2.83, according to GasBuddy.com. Modesto tallied a low fuel cost of $2.47 and a high cost of $3.09.

Chowchilla drivers didn’t fare so well with a range from $2.73 to $3.09.

Refinery production on the West Coast is at its highest levels since August 2016, helping to stabilize gas prices, AAA said.

California and several other states raised their gas taxes on July 1, according to Patrick Dehaan, GasBuddy.com’s senior petroleum analyst. But, prices remain comparatively low.

Nationally, “motorists will continue to benefit with among the lowest gas prices of the year,” he wrote on his blog. “And while gas prices are now slightly more expensive than last year, put into the context of the last ten years, prices remain seasonally low.”

This story was originally published July 12, 2017 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Have you enjoyed falling gas prices in Merced? Here’s why that may not last."