US Average Gas Price Stays Above $4 for Record 158 Days

The national average price of regular gasoline in the United States has remained above $4 a gallon for 158 consecutive days, setting a new record. AAA data place the current average at $4.33 per gallon. The figure is 46 percent higher than the $2.98 average recorded in late February, before a series of geopolitical events that affected oil supply routes.

The previous record for consecutive days above $4 was set in 2022. The present streak exceeds that mark. The all-time peak average of $5.01 occurred in June 2022. The current price is below that peak but has not fallen below the $4 threshold for more than five months. It declined fractionally from $4.37 the previous week.

Diesel prices have risen even more sharply in many regions, adding costs for freight and agriculture. Analysts link the sustained elevation to continued tightness in global crude markets, shipping risks in key waterways, and seasonal demand. Household expenditure on fuel has increased accordingly. One estimate from Brown University's Watson School put the additional annual cost above $560 per household relative to earlier levels.

The duration of the $4-plus period is the new measurable fact. It coincides with midterm election campaigning in which fuel prices remain a frequent topic. Whether the average drops below $4 before winter or extends the record further depends on crude supply, refinery utilisation and any change in geopolitical risk premia. For drivers, the immediate condition is a national average that has now sat above four dollars for longer than at any previous point.