Drivers heading into the holiday season are seeing the lowest gas prices in four years, with the national average falling 5 cents over the past week to $2.94, according to AAA’s latest data released Thursday.
The national average has remained below $3 since December 2, when it dipped to $2.99. Prices are also lower than during last year’s holiday travel period, when the national average was $3.04 at the end of 2024. Today’s national average sits at $2.940, down from $2.991 a week ago and $3.072 a month ago. One year ago, the average was $3.020.
New data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows gasoline demand rising from 8.32 million barrels per day to 8.45 million last week, while total domestic gasoline supply increased from 214.4 million barrels to 220.8 million. Gasoline production, however, decreased and averaged 9.6 million barrels per day.
In the oil market, West Texas Intermediate crude rose 21 cents to settle at $58.46 a barrel at the close of Wednesday’s trading session. The EIA reported U.S. crude inventories fell by 1.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 425.7 million barrels, inventories are about 4 percent below the five-year average for this time of year.
Electric vehicle drivers saw no change in charging costs, with the national average for public charging remaining at 38 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Hawaii continues to have the most expensive gasoline in the country at $4.44, followed closely by California at $4.41 and Washington at $4.04. Other high-priced markets include Oregon, Alaska, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and New York. The lowest averages are in Oklahoma at $2.36, Texas at $2.51, and Iowa and Colorado, which both reported $2.52. Arkansas, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Missouri and Kentucky also remain among the least expensive states for gasoline.
Electric vehicle charging rates also vary widely. West Virginia has the highest average at 51 cents per kilowatt-hour, followed by Alaska and Hawaii at 48 cents. New Jersey averages 43 cents, while several southern and western states report averages in the low 40s. The least expensive charging markets include Kansas and Wyoming at 26 cents, Missouri at 28 cents, Nebraska at 29 cents, and Vermont, Utah, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland and New Mexico ranging from 31 to 33 cents.
Drivers can monitor current gas and electric charging prices along their routes using the AAA TripTik Travel Planner.
