California gas prices are the highest they’ve ever been since 2022, while simultaneously having the highest prices within the U.S. as of 2026. Stemmed from geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East in which oil prices have been pushed, cost of imports of specialized fuel brands have increased, leading to high demand around the world and an overall struggle to maintain cost of gas.
These rising prices have many wondering, how exactly will this impact the lives of students, who are forced to drive everyday amid these rising costs?
“I think it affects me as a student because I then have to pay more for gas prices and pay more frequently because it’s more expensive. It’s reached almost like seven or eight bucks in places,” said Samuel Fischer (11).
California itself always falls victim to high prices, especially along the bay area. Factors such as inflation, higher taxes, and cost of businesses all play key parts in why the cost of living in California is so high, much higher than any other state in the U.S.
Since the beginning of this year, U.S. crude oil prices have rapidly increased, rising 90% since January.
“I think that when oil prices increase inflation as a whole increases and just makes daily life in general worse. We have less stuff to spend on recreation and the school has less to spend on student life. It’s overall just bad for everyone” said Samuel Nicholson (11).
This problem can be traced back to the war involving Iran and Israel disrupting shipping costs and pricing overall oil supplies at a higher cost.
“I think that our government should be able to fix this. I think the solution can be solved through better negotiating practices with OPEC leaders and Middle Eastern leaders who control oil prices and oil fluctuations,” said Fischer.
But how will these increased gas prices personally affect student life? And if these issues are to carry on, how will their effects be prevalent as students get older?
“People are going to be out of a lot of money because they are spending so much on gas and public transport in the U.S. shouldn’t be as good as it should be, so maybe people will take the bus. I think people will be just short on money for the time being,”said Fischer.
As these issues continue and students are concerned for money, it makes them wonder about the long term effect of these issues.
“As someone who doesn’t really have enough money to comfortably go through college without being in debt, I am pressed for money and the fact that gas prices in America are rising, it’s not very comforting,” said Fischer.
As the high demand for oil increases, these gas prices will keep going up, becoming a real hindrance on students and raising concern for any student who drives to and from school and how these rises in gas prices will affect them in the future.
