San Jose Gas Prices Dip Slightly Friday as Diesel Rises; Both Remain Above Last Week

Regular gasoline edged down three-tenths of a cent per gallon in the San Jose metro Friday, while diesel rose nine-tenths of a cent, according to AAA’s July 31, 2026 price check.

AAA listed the latest average at $5.631 per gallon for regular gasoline and $6.847 for diesel. The small gasoline decline from Thursday does not yet mark a broader reversal: both fuels remain more expensive than they were a week ago, a month ago and a year ago.

Gasoline is down Friday but still above $5.60

San Jose metro regular gasoline averaged $5.631 Friday, down $0.003 from Thursday’s $5.634 average.

Compared with the previous week, regular gas is up $0.037 per gallon. The increase is $0.184 from one month ago and $1.136 from one year ago.

For a driver filling a 15-gallon tank, the year-over-year difference works out to about $17 more for a comparable fill-up, before accounting for station-by-station price differences.

Diesel moves higher and remains the costlier fuel

Diesel followed a different path Friday. The San Jose metro average increased $0.009 from Thursday, reaching $6.847 per gallon.

Diesel is up $0.048 from a week ago, $0.245 from a month ago and $1.603 from a year ago. Its year-over-year increase is substantially larger than the increase for regular gasoline.

That gap matters most for delivery operators, contractors, construction companies, service businesses and other commercial users that rely on diesel-powered vehicles or equipment. Higher fuel costs can affect operating budgets and may become a cost to watch when businesses set delivery, service or project prices, although the price data alone does not show whether any particular company has changed its rates.

What San Jose drivers should watch

For commuters and households, the immediate issue is that regular gas remains above $5.60 per gallon despite Friday’s slight decline. Drivers planning weekend trips may want to compare stations before filling up because individual pump prices can vary across the metro area.

Fuel costs can also work through local household and business expenses. Delivery routes, contractor visits, restaurant supply trips and other vehicle-dependent services all use transportation fuel. Diesel’s larger annual increase is especially relevant for operators whose costs are tied to freight, equipment or recurring commercial routes.

California context

AAA’s statewide Friday averages were $5.651 for regular gasoline and $6.910 for diesel, putting San Jose slightly below the California averages for both fuels.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s July 28 California release listed a weekly regular-gas average of $5.489 and an on-highway diesel average of $6.670 for the week of July 27. That weekly data provides broader context, while AAA’s metro figures capture the latest San Jose-area price check.

Share the highest and lowest pump prices you are seeing around San Jose, and include the neighborhood or cross streets so other drivers can compare local stations.

Sources

• AAA Fuel Prices — California metro averages
• U.S. Energy Information Administration — California gasoline and diesel retail prices