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By Giulia Carbonaro
Senior Reporter
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Gas prices have continued falling in many states across the country this week, including Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington—where drivers pay the highest prices at the pump.
However, in some states, prices have inched back up since Monday, even though nationwide the cost of gas is still at its lowest level in over four years.
Why It Matters
Rising gas prices during the Biden administration became a contentious issue that contributed to turning many voters against the then-president, plunging his approval rating.
Read More on News
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised to lower the cost of living for Americans—including gas prices—starting on "day one," as he said in August 2024. While gas prices are now lower than they were a year ago, they remain above pre-pandemic levels: In December 2019, the national average was $2.58 per gallon of regular gas, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA).
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What To Know
According to the fuel-cost tracker GasBuddy, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $2.922 on Friday, down from $2.983 a week earlier, $3.074 a month earlier and $3.018 a year earlier.
AAA, reported that the national average on Friday was slightly higher, at $2.932 per gallon of regular gas.
The two maps below show how prices have changed from December 8 to December 12.
AAA said the national average gas price has been steadily below the $3 mark since hitting $2.99 on December 2—great news for millions of Americans planning on traveling during this holiday season.
During an address at the White House this week, Trump took credit for the lower gas prices while praising the country's "unbelievable economy."
Patrick DeHaan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told Newsweek earlier this week, "Trump is not the reason for the drop—it's happening to global prices—though I'm sure like any politician, he may try to take credit for the good news, but it's effectively not his credit to take."
Gas prices are falling because of "continued seasonal factors," he said, including refineries finishing maintenance and now boosting output, as well as oil prices being near multiyear lows.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said during an address at the White House: "Prices are coming way down. Energy is coming way down. Gasoline is hitting now $1.99 in a couple of states, and it's way down. Gasoline is way down. And when gasoline and energy come down, everything follows. ... It's amazing what's happening."
Neither GasBuddy nor AAA data showed any state where the average price of gas, per gallon, was $1.99 as of Friday, but GasBuddy previously reported that a dozen stations across the country were seeing such prices.
AAA wrote in its latest commentary on gas prices: "The holiday season is delivering a gift for drivers as the national average dropped 5 cents since last week to $2.94. Gas prices are the lowest they've been in four years. The national average has stayed below the $3 mark since hitting $2.99 on December 2.
"As a record number of travelers prepare to hit the road later this month, they'll be paying less than they were last holiday season when the national average was $3.04 to close out 2024."
What Happens Next
AAA said lower gas prices would contribute to a record-high 122.4 million Americans traveling during this holiday season, including Christmas and New Year, up 2.2 percent from the previous record of 119.7 million reached last year.
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