Overview
- AAA reports the national average has stayed below $3 since Dec. 2 and hovered near $2.86 on Tuesday, marking the cheapest December since 2020.
- GasBuddy projects an average of roughly $2.79 on Christmas Day and estimates drivers will save more than $500 million over the holiday week.
- AAA expects a record 122.4 million year-end travelers, including about 109.5 million by car, and INRIX flags Dec. 26 as the peak congestion day with the worst hours from late morning into evening.
- Fuel costs are being held down by rising U.S., Canadian and OPEC+ output, crude prices under $60 a barrel, and seasonal demand easing after refinery maintenance wrapped up.
- Price gaps remain wide by state, with Hawaii and California above $4 a gallon, Oklahoma near $2.30, and diesel averaging about $3.59 nationally.