US Gas Prices in 2026: Official Data, Trends and Budget Impact
After a painful spring spike, gasoline prices have been falling steadily for American drivers — but they remain meaningfully higher than they were a year ago. As of July 13, 2026, the national average for regular unleaded stands at $3.855 per gallon, according to data from FRED (fred.stlouisfed.org), retrieved July 16, 2026. Here is what the official numbers show, what they mean in historical context, and how they affect a typical household budget today.
Where Prices Stand Right Now
The table below shows weekly national average prices for regular gasoline from late May through mid-July 2026. The trend tells a clear story: prices peaked near $4.48 in late May, then dropped sharply through late June before ticking slightly back up in the most recent reading.
| Week of | Price (USD/gal) |
|---|---|
| May 25, 2026 | $4.475 |
| June 1, 2026 | $4.305 |
| June 8, 2026 | $4.146 |
| June 15, 2026 | $4.052 |
| June 22, 2026 | $3.914 |
| June 29, 2026 | $3.831 |
| July 6, 2026 | $3.777 |
| July 13, 2026 | $3.855 |
From peak to the July 6 low, prices fell $0.698 per gallon in roughly six weeks — a meaningful reprieve. The slight uptick to $3.855 on July 13 is worth watching. Small reversals like this can be noise, or they can signal that the downward slide has run its course. Either way, prices are still well above where most drivers would like them.
The Historical Picture: 1, 5, and 10 Years Ago
Context matters enormously when judging whether gas prices are truly painful or just feeling that way. The table below compares today’s price to what drivers paid at comparable points in 2025, 2021, and 2016.
| Period | Date | Price (USD/gal) | Change vs. Today | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | July 13, 2026 | $3.855 | — | — |
| 1 Year Ago | July 28, 2025 | $3.123 | +$0.73 | +23.4% |
| 5 Years Ago | July 26, 2021 | $3.136 | +$0.72 | +22.9% |
| 10 Years Ago | July 25, 2016 | $2.182 | +$1.67 | +76.7% |
Two things stand out immediately. First, prices today are almost exactly the same relative to both one year ago and five years ago — up roughly 23% in both cases. That near-identical result across very different time horizons suggests that the $3.10–$3.15 range has been something of a recurring “floor” in recent years, and that the current level represents a significant step up from that baseline. Second, the ten-year comparison is stark: gas costs 76.7% more today than in the summer of 2016. Even adjusting informally for overall inflation over a decade, that is a substantial real-dollar increase for households.
What This Means for a Typical Household Budget
Numbers per gallon can feel abstract. Consider a household driving a vehicle that averages about 25 miles per gallon and covers roughly 1,000 miles per month — a reasonable approximation for many American families. That works out to about 40 gallons per month.
- At today’s price of $3.855, that household spends roughly $154 per month on gasoline.
- One year ago at $3.123, the same driving habit cost about $125 per month.
- Five years ago at $3.136, the cost was also roughly $125 per month.
- Ten years ago at $2.182, that same 40 gallons cost about $87 per month.
The year-over-year increase alone translates to roughly $29 more per month, or about $348 per year, compared to summer 2025. Versus ten years ago, the same driving costs $67 more every month — over $800 more per year. For a household already stretched by elevated costs in housing and groceries, that is not trivial. It is the equivalent of a recurring monthly bill that simply appeared and never left.
The spring 2026 spike to $4.475 was particularly punishing. At that price, the same 40-gallon-per-month household was spending $179 monthly — $54 more than a year earlier. The subsequent drop to the current $3.855 has restored a portion of that relief, but drivers have not returned to the relative comfort of mid-2025 prices.
What This Means for You
Here are the most practical takeaways from the data:
- Budget for $3.85, not $3.12. If your household budget still reflects last summer’s gas prices, it is underbuilt by roughly $29 per month. Revise your variable-expense line now.
- The recent drop is real, but do not count on it continuing. Prices fell nearly $0.70 per gallon in six weeks, then nudged back up on July 13. Downward trends in gas can reverse quickly.
- The ten-year increase is structural. A 76.7% rise over a decade means transportation costs are permanently higher in your budget than they were for the prior generation of drivers. Fuel-efficient vehicles and trip consolidation have a real dollar payoff at today’s prices.
- If you carry a variable-rate auto loan or HELOC, gas prices compound your pressure. Higher fuel costs reduce the discretionary cash available to service debt, so this is a good moment to review whether any debt payments can be accelerated before rates or prices shift again.
About the Data
All figures in this article come from FRED series GASREGW (Weekly U.S. Regular Conventional Gas Price, Dollars per Gallon), published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration and hosted at fred.stlouisfed.org. The series reflects the national average retail price of regular-grade gasoline surveyed weekly from a sample of gas stations across the country. It is a reliable broad benchmark, but it has limitations: it is a national average, so prices in California, Hawaii, or rural Midwest markets can differ substantially from the figure shown. It also covers regular grade only — premium and diesel track differently. Data was retrieved July 16, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much have gas prices risen in the past year?
As of July 13, 2026, regular gasoline averages $3.855 per gallon nationally. One year ago (late July 2025), the average was $3.123 — a difference of $0.73 per gallon, or 23.4% higher today, according to FRED data.
Were gas prices this high five years ago?
In late July 2021, the national average was $3.136 per gallon — nearly identical to the year-ago figure and about 22.9% below today’s price. So whether you look back one year or five, prices are up by roughly the same amount.
What was the highest price in the recent data?
The highest reading in the recent weekly data is $4.475 per gallon, recorded the week of May 25, 2026. Since then, prices have fallen by $0.62 per gallon through the July 13 reading.
How much more am I spending on gas compared to 2016?
Gas cost $2.182 per gallon in late July 2016. Today’s price of $3.855 is $1.673 higher — a 76.7% increase over ten years. For a driver buying 40 gallons a month, that works out to roughly $67 more per month, or over $800 more per year, than a decade ago.