The national average price for regular gas increased again on Friday, rising to $3.217 per gallon, according to AAA. 

Friday’s price meant fuel costs increased by over eight cents per gallon during the last week. It was also an increase of over one cent per gallon since Thursday, when a gallon of regular gas was $3.205. Gas prices have steadily increased all week. On Wednesday, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.187, and on Tuesday it was $3.167. The current price is also more expensive than a month ago, when the national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.177.

As recently as last week, a gallon of regular gas cost $3.124, the lowest national average price since March. The only current upside to gas prices is that despite the recent surge, fuel costs remain less expensive than a year ago, when the national average price for regular gas was $3.455 per gallon.

Gas prices had been trending downward in recent weeks. For the first time in quite a while, many statewide average gas prices had fallen below the $3 per gallon threshold. Earlier this month, 28 states had average gas prices below $3 per gallon. As of Wednesday, this had dropped to just 17 states. On Friday, that list now included only 15 states.

There are several contributing factors to why gas prices have risen. First, as the weather warms, demand for gas typically increases. An increase in demand, while not increasing supply levels, results in an increase in prices. Next, the recent military escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Iran can also impact gas prices. Just how much it, however, remains to be seen.

In addition to the recent geopolitical turmoil, the cost of gas has fluctuated quite a bit since the 4th quarter of 2024. By December, the national average price for regular had dwindled to just $3.01 per gallon. Over the last two quarters, Q1 2025 and Q2 2025, fuel costs have risen and fallen, ranging from a low of $3.07 to a high of approximately $3.30 per gallon. 

As mentioned above, several external factors share responsibility for this fluctuation, including the change in presidential administrations from Biden to Trump, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and economic uncertainty stemming from President Donald Trump’s initiation and subsequent retraction of tariffs.

Within the U.S., the location where one lives mainly determines how much or how little one pays for gas. States with the least expensive gas prices are typically located along the Gulf of America. The states with the most expensive fuel costs are on the West Coast. 

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California has the highest gas prices in the nation. The average cost of regular gas in the Golden State is $4.656 per gallon, a slight increase from Wednesday but a significant drop from earlier in the year. Hawaii has the next highest fuel costs in the country, at $4.474 per gallon. This is followed by Washington at $4.427 and Oregon at $4.053 per gallon. The top five is rounded out by Nevada, which has a statewide average for gas of $3.82 per gallon.

Conversely, the states with the least expensive gas prices are on the Gulf Coast. Mississippi has the cheapest gas prices, with an average of $2.721. Next is Louisiana, which has a statewide average cost of $2.827 per gallon. Texas is next with a price of $2.836, followed by Tennessee at $2.848 per gallon and Oklahoma at $2.825.