Alert: Stations Running Out Of Gasoline

As the national media comments on the recent price spikes in gasoline, a pivotal aspect of the story is going largely unreported. Local media outlets are saying that frustrated consumers are enduring long waits in line and stations are running out of gas.

(KTLA) Mom-and-pop stations are really feeling the squeeze. They've had to shut down because they can't get gas from their regular distributor, or they can't afford it.

And at least 12 Costco gas stations, including those in Marina del Rey, Tustin and Inglewood, have run out of gasoline. The Costco in Simi Valley ran out of regular fuel on Thursday and was selling premium fuel at regular prices. Costco is an independent gas provider, so it has to find gas on the open market. Costco's CEO said Friday morning that he expects to have gasoline back in their tanks soon, but probably not in time for the weekend. Valero Energy Corp. stopped selling gasoline on the wholesale market in Southern California and is allocating deliveries to customers. Exxon Mobil Corp. is also rationing fuel to U.S. West Coast terminal customers. Gas prices in California should continue to rise as retail prices catch up with wholesale prices, analysts say. Keep Reading RELATED STORIES