Gas prices have climbed above $4 per gallon in every state for the first time in years, as rising crude oil prices tied to instability in the Middle East continue to strain consumers ahead of the summer driving season.
According to AAA data released on Wednesday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $4.56, with even traditionally low-cost states crossing the $4 threshold.
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The milestone marks the first time all 50 states have recorded average gas prices above $4 a gallon since the 2022 energy shock following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Seven states now average more than $5 per gallon, led by California, which is averaging more than $6 a gallon. Mississippi and Oklahoma, which are typically among the cheapest states for fuel, have also climbed above $4.
Fuel costs have surged since late February as fighting involving Iran disrupted global markets and contributed to a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route that carries one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Crude prices have hovered above $100 per barrel in recent weeks, pushing gas prices steadily higher across the United States.
AAA said the national average has risen sharply since the beginning of spring, climbing from just under $3 a gallon in late February to more than $4.50 this month. The latest increase comes as refiners shift to more expensive gasoline blends and Americans prepare for heavier Memorial Day travel demand, factors that typically place additional upward pressure on pump prices.
Economists warn the spike could ripple across the broader economy, raising transportation and shipping costs and fueling inflation concerns. Government data released last week showed wholesale energy prices climbed sharply in April, driven largely by higher gasoline and diesel costs.
While analysts say prices could ease if oil markets stabilize or shipping routes reopen, they cautioned that continued geopolitical tensions could keep fuel costs elevated through the summer. During the last major gas price surge in 2022, national averages remained elevated for months and briefly topped $5 a gallon nationwide.
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President Donald Trump has said that high gas prices are a small price to pay for national security and has taken steps to offer relief for consumers. The administration has released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and waived the Jones Act, which requires vessels transporting goods between U.S. ports to be built in the U.S., owned by U.S. citizens, registered under the U.S. flag, and crewed primarily by U.S. citizens. Additionally, the White House has eased sanctions on Russian oil.
“This is peanuts,” Trump said on Tuesday. “I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while. It won’t be much longer.”
