The national average price for regular gas continues to rise on Friday, reaching $4.15 per gallon, according to AAA. It is an increase from a week ago, and also a month ago, when regular gas was $4.09 per gallon. If gas prices remain at the current level, they will set a record high for fuel costs on Labor Day. The previous record from Sept. 3, 2012, was $3.82 per gallon. According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas has never exceeded the $4 per gallon price point in the country’s history.
Barring significant unforeseen circumstances and a rapid decrease in fuel costs, the record-high gas prices for Labor Day will be a dubious distinction for President Donald Trump, who campaigned on lowering gas prices nationwide. And, while he did accomplish that feat earlier in 2026, with gas prices setting a five-year low at $2.79 per gallon on Jan. 12, fuel costs have risen sharply since then. In May, the national average price for a gallon of gas reached its highest price for the year at $4.562 per gallon.
