Gas prices: Increases to $3.884 per gallon, nearly 30 cents higher than a week ago

The U.S. national average price for regular gasoline continued to soar on Thursday, reaching $3.884 per gallon. It marks a nearly 30-cent per gallon increase compared to a week ago when the average price of a gallon of regular gas was $3.598, according to AAA.

Thursday’s pricing is the latest in a series of increases of gas prices since January 12, when the national average hit a 5-year-low of $2.79 per gallon. Since then, the national average for gas prices have increased. In January and early February, prices gradually rose with increases being attributed to winter storms throughout the country and affected fuel shipments. Costs have exploded since the end of February upon the launch of Operation Epic Fury, the joint military strikes with Israel against Iran. 

Over the last month, the national average cost of a gallon of regular gas has increased nearly a dollar, from $2.929 a month ago to today’s price. Affordable fuel costs, which for most of President Donald Trump’s two terms have been a staple of his time in office, are no longer available. Today’s gas prices are higher than a year ago when a gallon of regular gas cost $3.102. 

Fuel costs typically vary by region, with some areas having much lower gas prices than others. To an extent, that remains somewhat true. However, in recent weeks, aside from the significantly high gas prices in states on the Pacific coast, most notably California, fuel costs have soared nationwide. Earlier this year, 43 states had average gas prices under $3 per gallon. Today, no state has an average gas price below $3.24 per gallon. 

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Oklahoma has the cheapest gas prices in the U.S., with a statewide average of $3.243 per gallon on Thursday. A week ago, the average price was $3.055 per gallon, and a month ago it was $2.282, and realistically headed for $2 per gallon. Kansas is next in line for the lowest gas prices in the U.S., with an average price of $3.247 per gallon. Iowa is next at $3.347. Arkansas and North Dakota are the next two states with the most affordable gas prices, coming in at $3.348 and $3.353, respectively. 

Meanwhile, California has the most expensive gas prices in the nation at an average cost of $5.616 per gallon. The Golden State’s fuel costs are over 49 cents per gallon higher than in the state with the next-highest gas prices, Washington state, which has an average price of $5.145 per gallon. Hawaii is next at $5.07, followed by Oregon at $4.705 and Nevada at $4.665 per gallon.