- US gasoline reaches $4.47 a gallon as crude oil stays near $100 and supply disruptions pressure fuel markets
US gas prices are continuing to rise, with the national average reaching $4.47 per gallon on Sept. 18, according to AAA. Diesel has climbed to a record $6.45 per gallon, increasing pressure on motorists and businesses that depend on transportation.
Why Are Gas Prices Going Up?
The main pressure is crude oil. AAA said oil has been averaging around $100 per barrel amid continued volatility around the Strait of Hormuz. Higher crude costs generally feed through to gasoline and diesel prices.
Energy supply disruptions are adding to the pressure. CBS News reported that attacks and disruptions involving Middle Eastern energy infrastructure, the Strait of Hormuz and Russian refining capacity have reduced available supply.
How High Could Gas Prices Get?
GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan told CBS News that consumers should expect higher prices for longer. He projected gasoline could reach $4.50 per gallon and diesel could approach $6.60 in the near term. Those are analyst projections, not confirmed future prices.
AAA's latest data shows how quickly prices have moved. Regular gasoline is up from $4.30 a week ago and $4.07 a month ago to $4.47 today. The current average remains below the $5.02 all-time record set in June 2022.
Which States Have the Highest Gas Prices?
California currently has the highest state average at about $6.11 per gallon, followed by Hawaii at $5.49 and Washington at $5.57. The differences largely reflect regional refining capacity, transportation costs and local fuel-market conditions.
Why Are Diesel Prices Important?
Diesel has reached $6.45 per gallon nationally, according to AAA, exceeding its previous record. Diesel is widely used in trucking and other commercial transportation, meaning sustained increases can raise the cost of moving goods and potentially put additional pressure on consumer prices.
The near-term direction will depend heavily on crude oil prices, the availability of refined fuel and whether disruptions to global energy supply persist. For now, the confirmed trend is higher pump prices. Whether gasoline actually reaches $4.50 nationally will depend on how those supply and crude-oil pressures develop.