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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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Concerns over the U.S. economy linked to Donald Trump's whirlwind of policy changes in recent weeks have caused a decline in gas prices across the country, though experts warn that they may shoot up again due to the president's sweeping tariffs on goods coming from allied countries.
While the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.079 on Thursday, according to AAA data, in the most expensive states in the country—California, Hawaii, and Washington—drivers are currently spending more than $4 for a gallon of gas.
Why It Matters
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, polls revealed that the state of the country's economy and the higher cost of living was a top issue for a majority of voters.
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Trump ran with the promise of lowering costs for Americans and boosting the U.S. economy through tariffs and deregulation, but economists have expressed concern over the impact of such policies on the cost of everyday goods and the trade wars they could spark with some of the country's biggest partners.
Rising prices at the pump are immediately felt by millions of Americans who depend on their cars for their daily needs, including going to work; should they increase as a result of Trump's policies, as some experts say, the president's honeymoon with voters could soon come to an end.
Some say it already has: Trump's approval rate dropped from 49 percent at his inauguration to 47 percent after approximately 50 days in office, according to an Emerson College poll released earlier this month.
What to Know
These are the 10 states where drivers are paying the highest price for a gallon of regular gas, according to AAA data, as of Thursday morning.
- California: $4.669
- Hawaii: $4.542
- Washington: $4.080
- Nevada: $3.740
- Oregon: $3.719
- Arizona: $3.354
- Alaska: $3.408
- Illinois: $3.255
- Pennsylvania: $3.237
- Idaho: $3.195
The state where drivers currently pay the most for gas, California, also saw the second-biggest price increase in the country over the last week, according to data from GasBuddy.
While the national average price of gas fell for a third straight week (by 0.6 cents) to the lowest March level since 2021—when demand dropped during the pandemic—, in California the average price shot up by 7.7 cents. Only Michigan saw a bigger price increase, at 7.9 cents. In Washington, the third-most expensive state, the price of gas went down by 9.7 cents.
What People Are Saying
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a recent statement: "Concerns about the direction of the economy could have a major influence on fuel prices in the months ahead, especially with the high level of uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
"Additionally, OPEC+ announced last week that it would gradually begin restoring oil production after nearly two years of cuts, adding further downward pressure on oil prices. As a result, the typical seasonal rise in gas prices has yet to materialize, and if and when it does, it may be considerably smaller than expected."
What's Next
Gas prices normally rise in spring due to many U.S. refineries undergoing seasonal maintenance and an increase in demand; and yet, this has not happened this year, possibly because of the uncertainty surrounding Trump's policies.
It is not yet clear what will happen to gas prices in the coming weeks and months. Some experts expect tariffs on imported oil from Canada to push prices higher in the U.S. On the other hand, lower economic growth in the U.S. due to the trade wars spurred by the president's policies could dampen demand for oil and eventually sink prices.
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