In the United States, the national average price for gasoline has jumped 13 cents in a single week, according to the latest figures released by AAA on September 10, 2026. Regular unleaded now averages $4.277 a gallon, up from $4.1436 seven days earlier.
A rise driven by crude oil
The spike is being driven by rising crude oil prices. According to AAA, volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed the price of a barrel back above $100 for the first time since July 2026. At the close of Wednesday's trading session, WTI rose $3.02 to settle at $96.05 a barrel.
AAA notes something unusual: this increase is happening during a season when prices typically fall, as gasoline demand normally drops off at this time of year.
This week's key numbers
- Today: $4.2770
- One week ago: $4.1436
- One month ago: $4.0091
- One year ago: $3.1938
Over the past year, the increase adds up to more than $1 per gallon, bringing pump prices back to levels last seen in early June 2026.
Supply, demand and inventories: what the EIA data shows
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) sheds further light on the past week:
- Gasoline demand fell, from 8.92 million to 8.55 million barrels per day.
- Total domestic gasoline supply rose, from 205.7 to 206.9 million barrels.
- Gasoline production declined, from 9.8 million to 9.3 million barrels per day.
- U.S. crude oil inventories fell by 0.4 million barrels, to 424.1 million barrels, in line with the five-year average.
In other words, the drop in demand wasn't enough to offset the upward pressure coming from international oil markets.
The most expensive states for gasoline
Unsurprisingly, California remains at the top of the list at $5.89 a gallon, ahead of Washington ($5.53), Hawaii ($5.40), Oregon ($5.06) and Alaska ($5.05). Nevada ($5.01), Idaho ($4.76), Utah ($4.68), Arizona ($4.57) and Illinois ($4.48) round out the top 10.
The least expensive states for gasoline
At the other end of the scale, Indiana has the lowest average price in the country at $3.56, followed by Mississippi ($3.80), Texas ($3.83), Kansas ($3.84) and Louisiana ($3.85). Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina and Arkansas complete the list, all below $3.92.
EV charging: public stations hold steady
Unlike gasoline, the national average price of charging at a public EV station held steady this week, at 42 cents per kilowatt-hour. Regional differences remain significant, though: Hawaii (53 cents), West Virginia (52 cents) and Alaska (49 cents) are among the most expensive states, while Kansas (31 cents), Missouri (33 cents) and Iowa (33 cents) offer the lowest rates.
Market context
AAA explicitly links this rise in pump prices to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint for a significant share of the world's crude oil trade. Any geopolitical tension in the area tends to feed through quickly to WTI and Brent prices, and then, with a short lag, to prices posted at U.S. gas stations. The fact that WTI is trading close to $100 a barrel for the first time in two months is, according to AAA, the single clearest driver behind this week's jump at the pump.
AAA also points out that the calendar is working against drivers this time around: normally, the end of summer brings a slowdown in fuel demand as leisure travel declines, which puts downward pressure on prices. This year, that seasonal pattern is being overridden by rising crude prices, which explains why the price curve is turning upward instead of continuing its usual decline. The EIA figures reinforce this reading: demand did fall week over week, yet pump prices still rose, underlining just how strongly crude costs are currently outweighing domestic demand trends.
Key takeaways
Taken together, these figures illustrate how closely U.S. pump prices track global crude oil markets, even when domestic demand and supply conditions point in a different direction. In short, three points stand out from this week's AAA data:
- The average price of gasoline in the United States rose by 13 cents in seven days, a jump AAA describes as significant.
- The increase is directly tied to WTI crude climbing above $96 a barrel, amid geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The price of EV charging, meanwhile, stayed flat over the same period, at a national average of 42 cents per kilowatt-hour.
To track fuel price trends in France and compare them with international patterns, you can check our fuel price tracker. Drivers interested in European trends can also visit our European fuel prices page.