Overview
- AAA places the national average around $3.05–$3.07 per gallon, with GasBuddy saying a drop below $3 nationwide is likely in the coming weeks.
- U.S. crude trades near the high $50s per barrel as EIA data show a 3.5 million‑barrel inventory build and gasoline demand down 3.2% year over year.
- The IEA reports OPEC+ unwinding voluntary cuts and non‑OPEC output growth are boosting global supply faster than demand through 2026.
- Electricity bills continue to rise due to grid upgrades and surging data‑center demand, a pocketbook issue already shaping political debates in Virginia.
- Regional gaps persist, with the Lower Atlantic averaging $2.85 this week while West Coast states such as California, Hawaii, Washington and Oregon remain above $4.