The national average price for regular gas decreased slightly on Friday to $4.153 per gallon, according to AAA, bucking the weekslong trend of rising gas prices since February. The 1-cent decline in costs marked the first time that gas prices had dropped since the announcement of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Since setting a five-year low at $2.79 per gallon on Jan. 12, gas prices have steadily climbed over the weeks. Initially, severe winter weather across the country was blamed for the gradual price hike, as snowstorms in January and February disrupted oil refinery operations and production, affecting pricing. However, gas prices began to soar as Operation Epic Fury commenced. At the beginning of March, a gallon of regular gas increased to $2.984. By March 31, the national average price for regular gas rose to $4.018 per gallon.