The national average price for regular gas continues to increase on Wednesday, climbing to $4.064 per gallon. Wednesday’s pricing is almost five cents more expensive than yesterday and comes after a weekend in which there was a slight reprieve at the pumps.
That small decrease was short-lived, however, and gas prices officially passed the $4-per-gallon price point on Tuesday, the highest price for regular gas since 2022. Unfortunately for American commuters, fuel costs have increased fast and furious over the last month. On Tuesday, the price for a gallon of regular gas was $4.018, according to AAA. A week ago, the cost was $3.983 and a month ago, it was $2.984. A year ago, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.201.
Since gas prices reached a five-year low of $2.79 per gallon on Jan. 12, they have gradually risen. First, the increase was blamed on winter weather across the country, which disrupted fuel shipments in late January and February. Then came Operation Epic Fury, the joint military operation with Israel against Iran. This has caused significant fluctuations in oil markets and, subsequently, gas prices.
The current surge in gas prices nationwide has been a stark contrast to the previous years under President Donald Trump. Affordable fuel costs were a staple of his administration, and current trends are bucking Trump’s accomplishments and campaign promises on affordability. The rise in fuel costs has hurt Trump with the public, with many disapproving of his job in office because of the rising costs. Trump used to criticize his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, about gas prices. Now, current fuel costs are more expensive than they were in the last two years of Biden’s term.
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Regardless of who is in the White House, gas prices vary by region. The Midwest and Plains Region have the states with the lowest gas prices, while states on the West Coast have the most expensive fuel costs. The nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., is not located in either of those areas and currently has an average price of $4.197 per gallon, higher than the national average.
Oklahoma has the cheapest gas in the nation, with a state average of $3.27 per gallon. Kansas is next at $3.319 per gallon. Nebraska follows this at $3.411, and then Iowa and North Dakota, with statewide averages of $3.429 and $3.435 per gallon, respectively.
California has the highest statewide average gas price in the country at $5.892 per gallon. Hawaii is next at $5.462 per gallon. This is followed by Washington state at $5.359. Next is Oregon at $4.956 and Nevada at $4.94.