The average price of gasoline in America has spiked to its highest level in roughly four years, with the national average for regular hitting about $4.18 a gallon, according to data from AAA. The new high comes as negotiations over Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz continue.
The AAA national average stood at $4.176 on Tuesday, up from $4.111 a day earlier and $4.022 a week earlier, the data shows.
Why It Matters
A recent poll from Reuters/Ipsos indicated that over half of Republicans blame President Donald Trump for the spike in gasoline prices, as the Republican Party’s support of the economy dwindled amid the elevated costs at the pump.
The new high comes as Trump was asked last week if Americans can expect to spend more on gasoline for the foreseeable future.
“For a little while,” Trump responded. “You know what they get for that? Iran without a nuclear weapon that’s going to try and blow up one of our cities or blow up the entire Middle East,” he added in part.
What To Know
AAA data shows that the average price for regular gas has risen over a dollar compared to last year. The highest recorded average price for regular unleaded was $5.016 on June 14, 2022, and the highest recorded average cost of diesel was $5.816 five days later. Nearly four months prior, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, triggering oil market volatility and supply concerns across the globe—and worsened by American sanctions and a ban on Russian oil imports.
The West Coast and Northeast have the highest averages compared to other portions of the country. Oklahoma has the cheapest average price of regular gas on Tuesday, with $3.570 per gallon, AAA shows, while California has the highest, at $5.965.
Map of US Average Gas Prices by State
Below is a map showing the average cost for regular gas, by state. Those in red have prices from $4.200 to $5.965, states in gray average $3.900 to $4.199 and those in blue average from $3.570 to $3.899.
In an email to Newsweek earlier this month when asked about Trump’s tanking approval rating on gasoline, the White House said, “With the ceasefire now in place and a long-term peace plan being worked on, oil and gas prices will continue falling back to the multi-year lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions. President Trump remains committed to fully unleashing American energy dominance, lowering costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families.”
Newsweek reached out to the White House on Tuesday night via email about the new high price of gasoline.
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