US gasoline average falls to $4.22 a gallon
AAA’s October 29 reading was down 5 cents in a week. Wednesday’s approximately $4.25 a gallon was nearly 40% above roughly $3.05 a year earlier, leaving drivers paying more even as prices eased.
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AAA, which tracks fuel prices, put the US national average for regular gasoline at $4.22 a gallon in its 29 October 2026, release, down 5 cents over the preceding week.
That was a newer reading than Wednesday, 28 October, when the average stood at approximately $4.25, Fox News said in its report the following day, citing AAA. Wednesday’s price was nearly 40% above roughly $3.05 a year earlier. Calculated from those rounded averages, buying the same quantity of gasoline cost about $1.2 more per gallon.
Why prices eased but remain high
Earlier AAA figures show the decline over the preceding month:
| Date | Price per gallon |
|---|---|
| 29 September | $4.456 |
| 22 October | $4.270 |
AAA credited the switch to cheaper winter-blend gasoline for the recent dip, UVN reported. The US Energy Information Administration explains that summer gasoline uses more expensive ingredients that evaporate less readily, while winter gasoline can contain more low-cost butane.
AAA said crude oil prices above $100 per barrel were limiting further declines at the pump. The EIA’s October outlook forecast Brent, a global crude-oil benchmark, averaging 105 dollars per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2026 amid continuing disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Local prices vary widely
AAA’s state averages show why the national figure is not a quote for a driver’s local station. The range ran from North Carolina to California:
| State | Price per gallon |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | $3.42 |
| California | $5.94 |
EIA projects a gradual decline
The EIA’s October 6 outlook projected roughly flat retail gasoline prices during October, followed by a gradual decline. Its forecast quarterly averages were:
| Period | Average price per gallon |
|---|---|
| Fourth quarter of 2026 | $4.15 |
| First quarter of 2027 | $3.71 |
The next EIA retail-fuel update is scheduled for 3 November 2026.
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