Berkeley-Area Gas and Diesel Benchmarks Ease Friday

Regular gasoline and diesel benchmarks used to track the Berkeley-area fuel market both edged lower Friday, July 31, but remained above their week-ago, month-ago and year-ago readings.

AAA listed the San Francisco metro benchmark at $5.829 per gallon for regular gasoline, down 0.7 cents from Thursday’s $5.836. The diesel benchmark was $7.045 per gallon, down 2.0 cents from the previous day’s $7.065.

These are San Francisco metro figures, not an official Berkeley city average. AAA’s California page does not list a separate Berkeley metro row, so the San Francisco benchmark provides the closest listed regional comparison for Berkeley drivers.

Regular gasoline remains above longer-term comparison points

The San Francisco regular-gas benchmark was 4.6 cents higher than a week earlier, 22.5 cents higher than a month earlier and $1.176 higher than a year earlier. Friday’s small daily decline therefore did not reverse the broader increase shown in AAA’s comparison data.

For broader context, AAA listed the California regular-gas average at $5.651 and the national average at $4.106 on Friday. Neither figure represents the price level at Berkeley stations.

Diesel remains above $7 in the metro benchmark

The San Francisco diesel benchmark was 7.1 cents higher than a week earlier, 40.5 cents higher than a month earlier and $1.659 higher than a year earlier. Diesel’s 2.0-cent daily decline was smaller than those longer-term increases.

That matters for contractors, delivery operators, service fleets and restaurants that depend on work vehicles or regular deliveries. Regular gasoline prices also affect commuting, household travel and weekend-trip budgets.

Berkeley pump prices vary by station

Berkeley station listings viewed Friday showed why comparison shopping can matter. Way listed regular gasoline at $5.40 at the Chevron at 2996 Shattuck Ave., $5.50 at the Chevron at 1399 San Pablo Ave. and $5.56 at the 76 station at 1830 Solano Ave. The page also listed $4.49 at the Valero at 1894 University Ave.

Those are individual station listings, not a Berkeley city average. Pump prices can change during the day, and a single station listing should not be treated as representative of every neighborhood.

For Berkeley drivers, the next useful signal is whether Friday’s modest easing continues or reverses before the next weekly comparison. Share the highest and lowest pump prices you are seeing locally.

Sources

• AAA California Metro Average Prices
• Way Berkeley Station Listings