As further proof that Northern California and Southern California are
different countries (if not different planets):
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/02/17
/MN102815.DTL
"Gas prices are averaging about $1.05 a gallon around the country, the
lowest since May 1994, the U.S. Department of Energy said Friday. In the Bay
Area, the latest figures from the California State Automobile Association,
taken from its January survey, showed regular unleaded self-serve gas was
$1.37 a gallon.
"Experts say there is no one reason why Northern Californians pay so much,
but the end result is that the oil companies will charge what the market
will bear."
[ other tidbits, including a bizarre little bit about Jerry Brown, omitted ]
- Joe
P.S. The current (totally unsubstantiated) theory is that gas prices are
being kept high in NCal to offset losses in gas wars down in SCal.