The national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline stands at $4.356 this week. That figure represents what most drivers across the country are paying at the pump, though actual costs vary widely depending on where you live and which station you use. For a typical driver filling a 15-gallon tank, that works out to roughly $65.34 per fill-up at the national average price. Costs at this level continue to put meaningful pressure on household budgets, particularly for commuters and those who drive longer distances for work.
Prices edged down slightly compared to last week, falling by one cent to reach the current average. That small weekly decline offers modest relief, though the broader monthly trend tells a different story. Over the past 30 days, the national average has risen by about 4.5 cents per gallon, suggesting that the underlying pressure on prices has been upward over a longer timeframe. Seasonal demand, refinery operations, and crude oil prices are among the factors that typically drive these shifts, and the combination of those forces has kept prices elevated compared to a month ago.
The gap between the most and least expensive states remains striking this week. California leads the nation at $6.308 per gallon, followed by Hawaii at $5.625 and Washington at $5.449. Drivers in those states are paying well above the national average due to a mix of higher state fuel taxes, stricter environmental fuel blend requirements, and in Hawaii's case, the added cost of shipping fuel across the Pacific. On the other end of the spectrum, Georgia drivers are paying just $3.805 per gallon, with Texas close behind at $3.819 and Ohio at $3.874. The spread between California and Georgia alone is more than $2.50 per gallon.
In the week ahead, drivers should watch for any changes in crude oil prices, which remain one of the biggest factors influencing what people pay at the pump. Refinery maintenance schedules and any weather disruptions in major oil-producing regions could also push prices in either direction. If the mild downward trend from this week continues, some further relief may be possible in the short term, but the monthly trend suggests caution about expecting significant price drops. Updates to this data will be posted again next week as new figures become available.
Data source: AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Prices are statewide averages for regular unleaded gasoline.