The cost of gasoline hit an unwelcome benchmark in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday as the average price per gallon officially reached the $6 mark, according to the American Automobile Assn.

National gas prices also hit an unpleasant peak Tuesday when they surpassed the $4 mark for the first time in nearly four years. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent prices up in 2022, and this time the surge in cost is due to Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — amid the ongoing war.

Average gas prices at the local and national levels have increased by more than $1 a gallon since the U.S. and Israel initiated the conflict with Iran on Feb 28. And average national prices for diesel, the fuel used by most delivery trucks, have seen an even larger increase, up to $5.45 a gallon from around $3.76 before the war began, according to AAA.

Gas stations still have the ability to set their own prices, meaning there is a significant range seen across the region.

On the high end of the spectrum, the infamously expensive Chevron on the corner of Alameda Street and East Cesar Chavez Avenue in Chinatown is charging more than $8.70 a gallon. However, there are also several stations where gas still costs around $5 a gallon, according to the GasBuddy app.

As of Tuesday, the stations with more acceptably priced gas in L.A. County include:

• The 76 at 4600 Melrose Ave. in East Hollywood, where gas costs $4.89 a gallon.
• The Sinclair at 4590 Melrose Ave. in East Hollywood, $4.97 a gallon.
• The Mobil at 730 E. Las Tunas Drive in San Gabriel, $4.99 a gallon.
• The American Oil at 6850 Long Beach Blvd. in Long Beach, $5.09 a gallon.
• The United Brothers Gas at 502 W. Duarte Road in Monrovia, $5.14 a gallon.
• The Circle K at 8609 Garvey Ave. in Rosemead, $5.25 a gallon.
• The Arco at 8351 Washington Blvd. in Pico Rivera, $5.29 a gallon.
• The Arco at 10808 Lakewood Blvd. in Downey, $5.29 a gallon.

Californians may be pulling their hair out over the uptick in oil costs, but for many consumers in European countries, wartime disruptions in oil supplies have resulted in even more extreme price surges. In Paris, for example, the average price per gallon hit the equivalent of $10.27 this week.

In a Tuesday statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt vowed that “gas prices will plummet back to the multi-year lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions” once the U.S.-Israel joint military campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs is complete. President Trump said Tuesday that he expected the United States to end its involvement in the war with Iran within three weeks.

“President Trump remains committed to fully unleashing American energy dominance, lowering costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families,” Leavitt said.

The uptick in gasoline prices has led to frustration across the country.

A recent AP-NORC poll found that 45% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% shortly after Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

The price surge also has had political ramifications for oil production in California, with Trump invoking a Cold War-era law to force the controversial resumption of offshore drilling in the Golden State, citing the need to bolster domestic oil production for national security purposes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chocolate products from a Californian company have been recalled after they were found to have been spiked with the potentially dangerous ingredients used in Viagra and Cialis.

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Gear Isle recalled the products after they were found to contain undeclared prescription drug ingredients used to treat erectile dysfunction, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last week.

The products, sold online across the U.S., were found to have sildenafil and tadalafil. The ingredients could cause a “life-threatening” drop in blood pressure when mixed with nitrates found in prescription drugs, according to the FDA.

The two recalled products are Gold Lion Aphrodisiac Chocolate Male Enhancement Sachet and Ilum Sex Chocolate Male Sexual Enhancement Booster. The FDA initially issued a warning in February advising consumers not to purchase the second item after confirming the product contained tadalafil.

Men who use nitrates to treat cardiac conditions are most at risk when using the products, according to the announcement, which urged customers who purchased the products to stop using them immediately.

The Ilum sexual enhancement chocolate comes in black packaging with yellow and white font that reads “male sex chocolate.” The Gold Lion product is sold in purple packaging.

Gear Isle specializes in “adult novelties,” the company’s website states. The company doesn’t make any of the products it sells, according to its website.

Gear Isle has not received reports of adverse reactions from these products, according to the FDA announcement. The company has reached out directly to customers to coordinate returns and refunds.

The FDA warned consumers that products marketed as dietary supplements, which are typically promoted for sexual enhancement, weight loss and pain relief, can contain hidden drug ingredients.

“Consumers should exercise caution before purchasing these products,” the February announcement read. “FDA is unable to test and identify all products marketed as dietary supplements that have potentially harmful hidden ingredients.”

Mattel announced another round of layoffs targeting dozens of employees, the latest in a flurry of cost-cutting moves made by the company in recent years.

According to a notice sent to state and local officials, the company behind Barbie and Hot Wheels will lay off 65 employees from its El Segundo headquarters, effective on May 22 — about a year after it laid off 120 workers.

The company is reducing and restructuring roles across the company to optimize operations and realign the company toward a new brand-centric operating model, a Mattel spokesperson told The Times.

“These changes are designed to advance the company’s growth objectives and strengthen our competitive position,” the Mattel spokesperson said.

Employers are legally required to submit a WARN notice to alert employers, state and local officials at least 60 days before major layoffs. The initial notice was submitted on March 23.

The company let go of 89 workers in January, part of restructuring the company’s global brands team, a Mattel spokesperson told the Los Angeles Business Journal.

The shrinkage follows lackluster economic performance in 2025, which plummeted the company’s shares by 25% in February. The company lost close to $1 billion in market value.

The stock market dip came after the company announced weak holiday season sales, with Barbie products lagging. The doll, a Mattel staple, rose to the spotlight following the 2023 hit movie “Barbie,” but has since lost momentum.

Mattell made $5.3 billion in net sales in 2025, down 1% from the year before, according to the company’s unaudited financial statements.

Leaders said the company has shifted its focus toward IP-based digital games — a more profitable landscape than toys, which were once integral to Mattel’s success.

The company recently announced it spent around $160 million to acquire full ownership of its mobile game studio Mattel 163, initially a joint venture with the Chinese internet and video game company NetEase. The studio has released four games based on Mattel’s intellectual property since it was established in 2018.

The company announced earlier that digital versions of its popular game Uno had launched on Roblox and Fortnite.

Mattel has also set its sights on major movies, recently partnering with Netflix to make toys inspired by the breakout success of “KPop Demon Hunters,” which the company expects will boost doll sales.

It also has deals to develop toys for the “Masters of the Universe” franchise, which has a movie releasing in June, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise that has a new movie slated for next year.

“Success in our toy business will drive success in entertainment, and success in entertainment will drive greater success in toys,” Chief Executive Ynon Kreiz said in February. “We are looking to fully capitalize on this virtuous cycle.”