Overview
- AAA reports the national average at $2.896 per gallon, the first dip below $2.90 in more than four years after a steady month‑long slide.
- GasBuddy projects a $2.79 national average on Christmas Day, which would be cheaper than last year and save motorists hundreds of millions over the holiday week.
- Analysts attribute the downturn to increased OPEC+ output, record U.S. production near 13.8 million barrels per day, completed refinery maintenance, cheaper winter blends, and crude benchmarks around $55–$60.
- President Trump is claiming credit for lower pump prices, but energy experts and fact checks note presidents have limited direct control and that only four states currently average under $2.50 per gallon.
- Regional gaps remain wide, with Oklahoma among the cheapest and California and Hawaii above $4, as AAA also expects a record 122.4 million holiday travelers to benefit from lower fuel costs.