U.S. gas prices hit a record high on Wednesday, with the average cost per gallon of gasoline remaining well over $4 for the 158th day in a row, breaking the record set in 2022 under the Biden administration.
The new record comes less than three weeks before the midterm elections, when tight races in several key battleground states will determine control of Congress. The economy remains a top concern for voters, with inflation and gasoline prices continuing to weigh on household budgets.
As of Tuesday morning, the national average gas price was $4.34 per gallon, according to AAA, up from $2.98 per gallon just before the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in late February.
That means gas prices have risen more than 46 percent since the start of the war, for an additional $73.5 billion, according to researchers at Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs. That amounts to an additional $561.20 per U.S. household.
The surge in costs is bad news for President Donald Trump and the Republicans hoping to maintain control of the House and Senate, as Trump made lower gasoline and energy prices a key point in his 2024 presidential campaign. Last October, the White House touted Trump's leadership as "bringing relief at the gas pump."
At the time, the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. was a little over $3. Shortly after the White House announcement, Trump said gas prices would soon drop below $2 per gallon. Five months later, the average price of a gallon of gas was nearly $4. The prices have risen even further since.
“President Trump remains committed to unleashing American energy dominance, cutting costs, and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Newsweek on Tuesday. "The President wants to see prices at the pump fall and continues to take historic measures to alleviate temporary disruptions as oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz approaches pre-conflict levels. President Trump had the courage to do what his predecessors didn’t to ensure the Iranian terrorist regime will never have a nuclear weapon."
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Why Are Gas Prices So High?
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have driven the recent surge in gas prices, fueling concerns about global oil supplies and pushing crude prices higher.
Because crude oil is the largest component of gasoline costs, increases in oil prices typically translate into higher prices at the pump. While some lawmakers have moved to temporarily suspend gas taxes to ease the burden on consumers, the national average price of gasoline has continued to climb.
Diesel prices have also surged, hitting farmers, truckers, and the shipping industry particularly hard. The average price for a gallon of diesel on Tuesday was $6.27.
"Absolutely stunning price spikes in wholesale diesel today; Up 18cts/gal Gulf Coast and East Coast; but up 28cts/gal in Southern California and 25-30cts/gal in Great Plains and Great Lakes. Market clearly not believing that Russian oil is on the way," Gulf Oil Chief Energy Advisor Tom Kloza said in a post on X on Tuesday.
How This Record Differs From 2022
The record set on Wednesday is for the number of days when the average price for a gallon of gasoline exceeded $4.
"it’s official: 2026 has now tied 2022 for the most days ever with the national average price of gasoline above $4/gal. 157 days and counting. one more and it’s a new record," head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy Patrick De Haan posted on X on Tuesday in anticipation of the new record being set.
However, the record applied only to days above $4. The all-time price record remains from June 2022, when the average price per gallon of gas hit $5.01. That means that today's current average is roughly 65 cents lower than the peak average under the Biden administration.
Although it hasn't broken the all-time average price for a gallon of gas, the high prices are unusual for this time of year. In its October 8 news release, AAA stressed that current gas prices are the highest they've ever been for this time of year.
"Gas prices remain the highest they’ve ever been for this time of year. Even though the national average dropped 5 cents this past week to $4.36, pump prices remain at record highs for autumn," the release said. "This is the first year the national average has been above $4 per gallon in October. After dipping into the $80 per barrel range for several days, crude oil is back above $90 per barrel. Hurricane Isaias is another factor that could affect gas prices if oil production and refineries in the region are impacted."
What States Have the Highest Gas Prices
Currently, California has the highest gas prices, with the average price of a gallon of gas at $6.28. Prices are also particularly high in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Illinois, and Arizona.
Gas prices are lowest in Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
What Happens Next
Gasoline prices are likely to remain a major political issue in the final weeks before the midterm elections as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress. Whether prices continue to climb or begin to fall will depend largely on global oil markets and concerns about potential supply disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East.
However, energy experts continue to express concern about gas prices, with Kloza saying on Tuesday the surge in diesel prices was "not a normal day," and De Haan saying that "truckers and farmers [are] not going to see any relief anytime soon."
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson.