Overview

• AAA put Tuesday’s national average at about $3.19 per gallon—roughly flat week over week, slightly above some weekend projections, yet still the lowest Labor Day level in years.
• State averages remain far apart, with California around $4.61 and Hawaii $4.46, while Mississippi sits near $2.71 and Texas about $2.77, reflecting persistent regional disparities.
• Recent month-over-month firmness tied to localized refinery issues, including Indiana flooding, followed a broader multi-month downtrend from spring through midsummer.
• GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan says prices could dip below $3 this fall as demand wanes, though AAA notes uncertainty, and risks include hurricanes, trade tensions and the war in Ukraine.
• The White House credits President Trump’s energy policies for lower prices, while independent experts point to seasonal factors, stable crude and tight refining capacity that amplifies volatility.