US regular gasoline averaged $4.36 a gallon in September 2026, the highest September average in the Energy Information Administration's records going back to 1990 and $1.19 more than in September 2025 [3]. In the weekly survey, gasoline peaked at $4.48 on September 21 and eased to $4.35 on October 5, still $1.23 above a year earlier [1][2]. Diesel reached a record $6.53 a gallon on September 21, and the EIA expects gasoline to average just under $3.60 in 2027 as crude prices fall [4][5].
How high are gas prices in October 2026?
The EIA surveys retail stations every Monday. DataPorium carries the same weekly series for the US, its fuel regions, nine states and ten cities [1]. In the week of October 5, 2026, the national average for regular gasoline was $4.354 a gallon, down 11 cents from the week before but up 39.4% from $3.124 a year earlier [1].
| Area | Regular, Oct 5, 2026 | A year earlier | Change over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $4.354 | $3.124 | +39.4% |
| California | $6.227 | $4.452 | +39.9% |
| Washington | $5.424 | $4.409 | +23.0% |
| New York | $4.380 | $3.077 | +42.3% |
| Massachusetts | $4.302 | $2.980 | +44.4% |
| Minnesota | $4.200 | $2.908 | +44.4% |
| Colorado | $4.020 | $2.835 | +41.8% |
| Florida | $3.970 | $2.979 | +33.3% |
| Texas | $3.874 | $2.724 | +42.2% |
| Ohio | $3.829 | $2.992 | +28.0% |
Source: DataPorium Energy, weekly retail prices for regular gasoline including taxes, survey of October 5, 2026 [1]. The EIA publishes state averages for these nine states only.
California had the highest price of the states in the survey at $6.23, and among cities, San Francisco ($6.31) and Los Angeles ($6.21) were highest [1]. Ohio was lowest at $3.83 after a 43-cent drop in one week, and Houston was the cheapest city at $3.84 [1]. By region, the Gulf Coast, home to much of the country's refining capacity, averaged $3.91, while the West Coast averaged $5.73 [1].
How does 2026 compare with past years?
Gasoline started 2026 cheaply. The national average was $2.81 a gallon in January and $2.91 in February, below the 2025 levels [3]. The war that began on February 28, 2026 changed that: the monthly average jumped to $3.64 in March, $4.10 in April and $4.48 in May, the 2026 high so far [3][8].
| Month (2026) | Regular gasoline | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| January | $2.81 | $3.52 |
| March | $3.64 | $4.92 |
| May | $4.48 | $5.60 |
| July | $3.93 | $4.96 |
| August | $4.06 | $5.46 |
| September | $4.36 | $6.29 |
Source: EIA monthly average retail prices, all formulations of regular gasoline and on-highway diesel, including taxes [3][4].
The September 2026 gasoline average of $4.355 was well above the previous highest Septembers in the EIA's monthly data: $3.849 in 2012 and $3.836 in 2023 [3]. It was still below the all-time monthly record of $4.929 set in June 2022, and the weekly record of $5.006 from June 13, 2022 [9]. These figures are not adjusted for inflation.
Diesel is a different story. The weekly diesel average hit $6.529 a gallon on September 21, 2026, the highest in the EIA's weekly data, and the September monthly average of $6.29 was also a record, above the $5.75 of June 2022 [4]. Diesel fell to $6.20 by October 5 [2].
Why are gas and diesel prices so high?
Crude oil
Crude oil is the biggest part of the price of a gallon. DataPorium data show Brent crude rose from $72.92 a barrel on June 30 to $103.53 on September 30, and US benchmark WTI from $69.50 to $90.42, as renewed fighting and a drone attack on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline disrupted Persian Gulf supply [6]. Saudi Aramco's chief executive said on October 5 that nearly 3 billion barrels of supply had been lost since the war began [8].
Refining and diesel shortages
The EIA said US retail gasoline and diesel prices "rose sharply in September" because of higher crude prices and rising crack spreads, the margin refiners earn for turning crude into fuel [5]. It described "extreme tightness in diesel markets," with East Coast distillate inventories 32% below their five-year seasonal average in September [5]. Diesel moves goods by truck, rail and ship, so its price feeds into the cost of almost everything consumers buy.
Regional factors
West Coast prices are higher in normal times because of state fuel standards, taxes and a refining system that is largely separate from the rest of the country. Over the 52 weeks to October 5, California's price rose $1.78 a gallon, more than the national increase of $1.23 [1].
What do higher fuel prices mean for inflation and household budgets?
Fuel is the most visible part of inflation. In the August 2026 consumer price index, gasoline was up 27.4% from a year earlier and the energy index was up 16.3%, while all items rose 3.4% [7]. For a household that buys 50 gallons of gasoline a month, the 52-week increase of $1.23 a gallon in the national average adds about $62 a month, or about $738 a year, based on DataPorium data [1].
The EIA expects relief next year if Middle East supply recovers as it assumes. Its October 2026 outlook forecasts retail diesel at about $4.50 a gallon and gasoline just under $3.60 on average in 2027 [5]. It also expects homes that heat with heating oil, about 3% of US households and mostly in the Northeast, to face prices more than 30% higher than last winter [5].
Regular gasoline averaged $4.36 a gallon in September 2026, the highest September in EIA records since 1990, while diesel set a weekly record of $6.53 on September 21.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price of gas in October 2026?
The national average for regular gasoline was $4.354 a gallon in the EIA survey of October 5, 2026, down from $4.465 a week earlier [1]. The EIA updates the figure every week.
Are gas prices at a record high in 2026?
Not overall. The September 2026 average of $4.355 was the highest for any September since 1990, but below the all-time monthly record of $4.929 in June 2022 [3]. Diesel did set records in September 2026 [4].
Why is diesel so expensive in 2026?
Diesel supplies are tight worldwide because of the disruption to Middle East oil and refining, and East Coast distillate inventories were 32% below normal in September 2026, the EIA said [5].
Which state has the most expensive gas?
Among the states the EIA reports, California was highest at $6.227 a gallon on October 5, 2026, followed by Washington at $5.424 [1].
Sources & References
- [1] DataPorium Energy (weekly US retail gasoline and diesel prices by region, state and city)
- [2] U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (released October 6, 2026)
- [3] U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Regular Gasoline Retail Prices, monthly history
- [4] U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. No 2 Diesel Retail Prices, weekly and monthly history
- [5] U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook, October 2026 (released October 6, 2026)
- [6] DataPorium Commodities (Brent and WTI crude oil futures)
- [7] BLS, Consumer Price Index, August 2026 (released September 11, 2026)
- [8] CNBC, Saudi Aramco chief says replenishing global oil stockpiles could take two years (October 5, 2026)
- [9] U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Regular Gasoline Retail Prices, weekly history
