California gas tax increase set to push pump prices higher July 1

California drivers will soon see another increase at the pump as the state’s gas tax goes up again on July 1.The excise tax on gasoline will rise by 2.2 cents, bringing California’s gas tax to 63.4 cents per gallon. The increase applies only to the state excise tax and is separate from the federal tax and sales taxes already included in the price of gas.According to AAA data from Tuesday, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in California was $5.433, compared with the national average of $3.847.In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, the average price for regular gas was $5.575 on Tuesday. That was down from $5.607 a day earlier, $5.751 a week earlier, and $6.201 a month earlier. A year ago, the average price in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area was $4.878.In the Salinas metro area, the average price for regular gas was $5.498 on Tuesday. That was down from $5.526 the day before, $5.672 a week earlier, and $6.186 a month earlier. A year ago, the average price in the Salinas area was $4.840.In San Benito County, the average price of gas was $5.68 on Tuesday. Even with recent declines, gas prices in both metro areas remain well above where they were this time last year.

SALINAS, Calif. —

California drivers will soon see another increase at the pump as the state’s gas tax goes up again on July 1.

The excise tax on gasoline will rise by 2.2 cents, bringing California’s gas tax to 63.4 cents per gallon. The increase applies only to the state excise tax and is separate from the federal tax and sales taxes already included in the price of gas.

According to AAA data from Tuesday, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in California was $5.433, compared with the national average of $3.847.

In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, the average price for regular gas was $5.575 on Tuesday. That was down from $5.607 a day earlier, $5.751 a week earlier, and $6.201 a month earlier. A year ago, the average price in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area was $4.878.

In the Salinas metro area, the average price for regular gas was $5.498 on Tuesday. That was down from $5.526 the day before, $5.672 a week earlier, and $6.186 a month earlier. A year ago, the average price in the Salinas area was $4.840.

In San Benito County, the average price of gas was $5.68 on Tuesday.

Even with recent declines, gas prices in both metro areas remain well above where they were this time last year.