Overview
- The national average has dropped to about $4.01 and fell below $4 on Tuesday, the first sub-$4 reading since July according to AAA and multiple price trackers.
- Analysts say the decline is driven mainly by lower seasonal demand, refineries coming back from planned maintenance and weaker crude and gasoline futures.
- Relief is uneven with states such as Michigan and Florida seeing large week-to-week drops while California and other regions remain more than $1 higher than last year.
- Diesel and jet fuel have stayed far higher and fallen much less than gasoline, keeping pressure on trucking, heating and air travel costs and on inflation.
- Experts warn the respite may be temporary because attacks and other damage have removed refined‑product capacity and a wave of deferred refinery maintenance in 2027 could push prices back up.