U.S. gas prices peak in 2026 with weeks to go until midterm | Today’s news
U.S. gasoline prices are nearing their highest level of the year, increasing pressure on U.S. consumers as November’s midterm elections loom and the Iran conflict continues to roil global energy markets.
The national average for regular gasoline was about $4.46 a gallon on Friday (Sept. 18), according to data provided by AAA Gas Prices, just 10 cents below the annual high of $4.56 hit on May 21. The price is also close to the record national average of about $5.01 reached after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in June 2022
Recent figures from AAA put the national average at $4.44 a gallon on September 17, up nearly 50% from before the start of the Iran war.
Six states above $5 per gallon
The increase is particularly pronounced in some states. California has the highest average in the nation at about $6.11 a gallon, while Michigan, Utah and Illinois were also close to the $5 mark, according to data in the report.
The increase came as oil prices rose due to disruptions linked to the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. Brent crude recently rose above $100 a barrel as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz added to concerns about global supplies.
The disruption also affects diesel, a critical fuel for trucking, agriculture and other industries. The national average for diesel hit around $6.40-$6.44 a gallon, depending on the day’s data, after topping $6 in September.
Why gas prices matter ahead of midterms
The timing puts fuel prices squarely in the broader cost-of-living debate ahead of the 2026 US election.
President Donald Trump has previously said that oil prices will plummet after the election and has pledged that gasoline could eventually drop below $2 a gallon.
At the same time, current market conditions offer little immediate relief.
For American households, higher gasoline prices directly increase the cost of driving, while increased diesel prices can be reflected in the cost of transportation, food, and other consumer expenses.
