The national average price for a gallon of regular gas decreased for the eighth consecutive day on Tuesday, falling to $4.022 per gallon, according to AAA. Before the recent string of drops, fuel costs had been soaring due to the military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which began on February 28.
Gas prices dropped two cents per gallon from Monday and nearly seven cents per gallon from last Thursday, when the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $4.09. Fuel prices have dropped close to ten cents per gallon from a week ago, when the cost was $4.118. The recent string of days with a decrease in fuel costs marks the first time the national average price per gallon of gas has decreased from the previous week since January. It is also the longest streak of consecutive days with a reduction in the national average price since the early winter.
Despite recent declines, gas prices remain more expensive than a month ago, though that gap is quickly narrowing. A month ago, the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. was $3.925, a current difference of approximately 10 cents per gallon. It is one of the smaller differences between gas prices over a month span since March. Gas prices peaked in 2026 at $4.16 per gallon on April 9.
Since gas hit $2.79 per gallon on Jan. 12, a five-year low, prices have gradually increased. Initially, winter weather nationwide was blamed for rising fuel costs, as snowstorms in January and February disrupted oil refinery operations and production. However, fuel prices began to soar after the Iran war began in late February. During the first week of March, a gallon of regular gas increased to $2.98. By March 31, the national average price of regular gas had risen to $4.02 per gallon.
Tuesday’s gas price decrease came the day after Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that it could be a while before the national average price for regular gas is near $3 per gallon.
“I don’t know,” Wright said during an interview on Sunday with CNN’s Jake Tapper. “That could happen later this year. That might not happen until next year. But prices have likely peaked.”
Trump said he disagreed with Wright’s assessment in an interview on Monday. The president said he expected gas prices to drop much more quickly than Wright predicted, believing that fuel costs would decrease with the conclusion of the military conflict in Iran.
“No, I think he’s wrong on that. Totally wrong,” said Trump. Gas prices will fall “as soon as this ends,” he added.
Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicted gas prices could return to the $3 per gallon price point sometime during the summer. His forecast aligned more with what Trump said.
“I’m optimistic that sometime between June 20 and September 20, we can have $3 gas again,” Bessent said last Wednesday.
“We’ll see,” he added. “But I think over the summer we could see gas prices starting with a three sooner rather than later.”
Despite recent increases and overall fluctuations in the national average gas price, costs vary by region. The most expensive gas prices in the nation are in the western United States. The most affordable gas prices are found in the Midwest and the Great Plains states.
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Oklahoma continues to have the lowest gas prices in the country at $3.373 per gallon. This is followed by Kansas at $3.472 per gallon. Iowa is next with a statewide average of $3.522 per gallon. Then, Nebraska at $3.554 per gallon, with Arkansas rounding out the top five states with the most affordable gas prices in the country at $3.577 per gallon.
California remains the state with the highest statewide average gas price in the country, at $5.829 per gallon. This is followed by Hawaii at $5.651 per gallon. Next is Washington state at $5.38 per gallon. Oregon and Nevada are the remaining two states in the top five states with the most expensive gas prices in the country. Oregon has a statewide average of $4.978, and Nevada is at $4.929 per gallon.
