ShareThisCalifornia gasoline prices are up again after stabilizing earlier in the month -- and the $4 gallon is well within view.California's statewide average gas price has risen to $3.94 a gallon, a 22-cent increase in the past month, AAA of Northern California said this week.Several California cities have already shattered the $4 barrier, with the highest average price in Northern California occurring at Tahoe City and Yreka: $4.10 a gallon.In its monthly report on gas prices, AAA said the high cost of crude oil is the main culprit behind the increase. Crude prices subsided about 10 days ago, and so did gas prices, but now both are on the rise.The price of gas usually goes up about 2.4 cents a gallon for every $1 increase in crude.AAA spokesman Michael Geeser said the prices are roughly where the U.S. Energy Department said they'd be -- but not until June. The summer driving season, which begins Memorial Day weekend, could bring higher prices."The fact that we are already paying more than anticipated, along with the realization that we're paying about 50 cents more for gas than we were a year ago at this time, signals a new era for consumers statewide," Geeser said in a press release.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
California poised to break $4 gas gallon barrier
Paying taxes unites us. It also divides us. People can pay five and even six times more in state and local taxes than other folks in similar circumstances making similar incomes.
Who's got your number?
In one of the fastest-growing forms of identity theft, crooks are stealing tax refunds by swiping personal information and using it to trick the Internal Revenue Service.
