Gas Prices This Week
Gas prices this week: the U.S. average for regular is $4.48 a gallon, up 16¢ from last week. Diesel averages $6.53.
Updated weekly · Prices for the week of Sept. 21, 2026 · Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) · By Nathan Brooks
Gas prices by region this week
National averages hide a lot. The EIA splits the country into seven fuel regions, and the gap between the cheapest and the most expensive can be well over a dollar a gallon. Your state’s price is usually close to its region’s average, so start with this table. Nine states also get their own weekly average (see the next table).
| Region | Regular | Weekly change | Diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast | $3.97 | ▲ 12¢ | $6.18 |
| Lower Atlantic | $4.16 | ▲ 12¢ | $6.14 |
| New England | $4.38 | ▲ 9¢ | $6.52 |
| Midwest | $4.39 | ▲ 30¢ | $6.68 |
| Central Atlantic | $4.44 | ▲ 5¢ | $6.55 |
| Rocky Mountain | $4.51 | ▲ 7¢ | $6.34 |
| West Coast (excl. California) | $5.11 | ▲ 8¢ | $6.79 |
| California | $6.00 | ▲ 18¢ | — |
Regions: New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT); Central Atlantic (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA); Lower Atlantic (FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, WV); Midwest (IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, OK, SD, TN, WI); Gulf Coast (AL, AR, LA, MS, NM, TX); Rocky Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY); West Coast (AK, AZ, HI, NV, OR, WA, plus California, shown separately).
States with their own weekly average
| State | Regular | Weekly change |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $3.93 | ▲ 12¢ |
| Florida | $4.22 | ▲ 12¢ |
| Colorado | $4.26 | ▲ 3¢ |
| Minnesota | $4.34 | ▲ 12¢ |
| Massachusetts | $4.35 | ▲ 10¢ |
| New York | $4.42 | ▲ 8¢ |
| Ohio | $4.48 | ▲ 33¢ |
| Washington | $5.52 | ▲ 1¢ |
| California | $6.00 | ▲ 18¢ |
Looking for another state? The gas prices by state page lists all 50 states plus D.C., and the price map shows them at a glance.
What’s moving gas prices right now
Prices climbed fast in September and have been easing slowly since. Here’s how I read the forces behind them:
- Crude oil is still expensive. U.S. crude (WTI) averaged $103.54 a barrel in the latest weekly data, and Brent averaged $124.15. Crude is the biggest single part of what you pay for a gallon, so as long as oil stays this high, I wouldn’t expect pump prices to fall far.
- World oil supply is tight. Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the route for about one-fifth of the world’s oil, has been disrupted since early 2026. Supply problems in other producing regions have added to the squeeze, and the EIA estimates that global oil inventories have fallen by about 400 million barrels this year. That’s the backdrop that keeps prices high even in weeks when they dip.
- Refinery problems hit locally. When refineries make less gasoline, prices in their region can rise quickly, especially in the Midwest and on the West Coast. That’s why one region can go up while the rest of the country goes down.
What’s next? In its September 2026 outlook, the EIA expects oil prices to ease in 2027 as flows through the Strait of Hormuz recover and inventories rebuild. It forecasts regular gas averaging about $3.35 a gallon in 2027, down from $3.84 for 2026 as a whole. Treat that as a direction, not a promise: forecasts like this can change quickly if supply is disrupted again.
Taxes matter too, but they don’t explain the weekly swings. The federal gas tax is 18.4¢ a gallon and hasn’t changed since 1993. State taxes range from 9¢ in Alaska to 73.6¢ in California, which explains a lot of the difference between states, not between weeks.
My take this week
In the week of Oct. 12, 2026, regular averaged $4.33, the third weekly drop in a row and about 15 cents below the Sept. 21 peak of $4.48. That’s real relief, but a small one: drivers are still paying about $1.27 a gallon more than a year ago. With crude still high, I expect prices to keep easing slowly rather than fall fast.
So I wouldn’t rush to top off, and I wouldn’t wait for a big drop either. Fill up when you need to, use the cheaper days of the week, and stack a discount you already have. Every week I break down the latest numbers in my weekly gas price report. — Nathan Brooks
What to watch next
Monday’s EIA survey. Two things would change the picture: a sharp move in crude oil, which usually reaches the pump within a week or two, and a new refinery outage in the Midwest or on the West Coast, where prices have been the jumpiest.
How to pay less this week
- Fill up on Sunday or Monday. GasBuddy’s 2026 study found these are the cheapest days in most states. It costs nothing to shift your fill-up by a day or two. See the best day to buy gas.
- Check prices near you before you drive. Our gas stations near me map shows stations around any ZIP code, so you can see your options before you’re running on empty.
- Use a free rewards program. Most take 3¢ to 10¢ off every gallon. At today’s prices, the free ones are an easy yes. Compare gas rewards programs.
- Consider a warehouse club. Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s often sell gas below nearby stations, but the membership only pays off if you fill up there regularly. Is Costco gas worth it?
Quick answers
When are these prices updated?
The EIA collects prices every Monday and publishes them the same day, usually in the late afternoon (Eastern time). If Monday is a federal holiday, it publishes on Tuesday. We update this page after each release.
Why is my local station cheaper or more expensive than this average?
These are averages for a whole region or state. Prices at a single station depend on its brand, location, local competition and taxes. Stations near highways and airports often charge more, while warehouse clubs and busy discount stations often charge less.
Why is diesel so much more expensive than regular gas right now?
Diesel usually costs more than regular gas, and the gap has been unusually wide in 2026 (see this week’s prices above). Diesel prices depend on their own supply and demand, including trucking and farm use.
Is premium gas worth it?
Only if your owner’s manual says your car requires it. If premium is only “recommended,” most cars run fine on regular. Premium usually costs close to $1 a gallon more than regular; see this week’s price at the top of this page.
Keep saving
Sources
EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update · EIA spot prices (WTI, Brent) · EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook (Sept. 2026) · EIA: federal gas tax · Tax Foundation: state gas taxes 2026 · GasBuddy: best day to buy gas 2026
FuelPriceScout is an independent information site. We don’t sell fuel and we’re not affiliated with any gas station, retailer or rewards program mentioned here. Prices are averages from public sources and are not what a specific station charges; program terms can change, so always check the official site before you sign up. How we get our data.