San Diego's 2026: Money, Homes, and Robots

San Diego is facing some big changes in 2026. Gas prices might hit $8 a gallon. Why? Two big refineries are closing. This could make gas hard to find and more expensive. But don't worry, the state is trying to make more oil in Bakersfield to help. The city is also thinking about taxing short-term rentals. This could make it harder for people to rent out their homes for vacations. Some people think this will help with housing, but others worry it will hurt small business owners. The real estate market is slow. Home sales are down, and no one knows if this is a short-term problem or a long-term trend. But there's good news too. A big empty office building might finally get turned into apartments for low-income families. The city is also waiting to see if a big convention center expansion will happen. There's money from a hotel tax, but the project is expensive and complicated. Plus, the city doesn't control a key piece of land needed for the expansion.Robotaxis are coming to San Diego. Waymo, a tech company, plans to start a fully driverless ride-hailing service. But not everyone is happy about it. Some people think it will take jobs away from drivers. Life science investment is slowing down, but some think this could be a good thing. There might be more initial public offerings (IPOs) coming up, which could bring in more money. Rents are down, but new apartments are being built. It's not clear if these new places will be able to charge high rents. The downtown office market is still struggling. More buildings might be sold at low prices. Some historic buildings might get turned into homes. Economic reports were delayed because of a government shutdown. But they should start coming out again soon, giving a better picture of how San Diego is doing. California wants to stop selling gas-powered cars by 2035. But the federal tax credit for electric vehicles ended in 2025. This makes people wonder if the state can really meet its goal.