Gas tops $8 at some Los Angeles stations, nearly double Seoul prices

LOS ANGELES — At a gas station near downtown Los Angeles, the price of regular gasoline this week climbed past $8 per gallon, prompting some drivers to do a double take at the pump.

Photos and short videos of the price board quickly began circulating on social media, showing the unusually high figure. The images have become a widely shared sign of the latest surge in U.S. fuel costs.

The spike comes as oil prices jump past $100 per barrel amid the war involving Iran, raising concerns about disruptions to global crude supplies.

Across Los Angeles, gas station signs now show unusually high prices.

The average gasoline price in California remains a little above $5 per gallon, according to fuel price trackers. That is roughly similar to gasoline prices in Seoul, where fuel recently averaged about 1,900 won per liter — around $5 per gallon.

What has drawn the most attention are the outliers.

At a handful of stations in Los Angeles, prices have climbed past $8 per gallon, far above the city’s average. Those stations have appeared repeatedly in social media posts and news reports highlighting the sharp rise in fuel costs.

California is often the first place Americans feel swings in global oil markets. The state requires a specialized cleaner-burning gasoline blend and relies heavily on its own refineries, making prices more sensitive when crude markets tighten.

Still, the highest prices seen around Los Angeles remain unusual.

For drivers in a city built around cars, the math adds up quickly. Filling a mid-size SUV can easily cost more than $100. With uncertainty lingering over global oil supplies, analysts say gasoline prices could climb further if the conflict drags on.