The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $2.81 to start the year, the lowest level since March 2021, according to current data on fuel prices, according to AAA.
The national average has ticked slightly downward from recent weeks, falling from $2.83 a week ago and $2.95 a month ago, and remains well below prices from a year ago, when it was about $3.07, the figures show.
Crude oil markets have been relatively steady since the end of 2025 and have not been significantly affected by ongoing questions about Venezuela’s potential impact on oil supplies, industry analysts say. A strong global supply and recent statements from OPEC+ — a coalition of major oil-exporting nations — indicate there are no planned production increases in the first quarter of 2026 due to lower demand.
According to Energy Information Administration data, gasoline demand declined last week from 8.56 million barrels per day to 8.17 million, while domestic gasoline supply increased from 234.3 million barrels to 242 million. Gasoline production averaged 9.0 million barrels per day, slightly lower than recent levels.
In oil markets, West Texas Intermediate crude closed a recent trading session about $1.14 lower at $55.99 a barrel, and U.S. crude inventories are reported to be about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year. Analysts say lower inventory levels can coincide with price volatility at the pump.
The national average price for electricity at public electric vehicle charging stations remains at about 38 cents per kilowatt hour.
Regional differences persist across the country. The most expensive gasoline markets include Hawaii (about $4.42 per gallon), California ($4.23) and Washington ($3.81), while the cheapest include Oklahoma ($2.25), Arkansas ($2.37) and Iowa ($2.37).
For EV drivers, the highest public charging costs per kilowatt hour are reported in West Virginia (about 52 cents), Alaska (48 cents) and Hawaii (45 cents), while the least expensive states include Kansas (26 cents) and Wyoming (27 cents).
Drivers can find current gas and electric charging prices along their routes using the AAA TripTik Travel Planner.
