US average gas price rises above $4 a gallon again

Published July 20, 2026 11:03 AM EDT

FILE-A driver refuels a vehicle with regular gasoline at a Shell gas station in Hercules, California on May 21, 2026. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Gas prices spiked on Monday as the U.S. and Iran launched more attacks amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. 

The national average for a gallon of regular gas is $4 compared to a year ago, when the average price was $3.14 a gallon, according to AAA. 

According to The Associated Press, the gas price is a national average, which means drivers in some states are paying more than $4 a gallon, while others pay less for gas. Prices differ between states because of factors ranging from nearby supply to varying tax rates.

Is this the first time gas prices in the U.S. are over $4 a gallon?

Dig deeper:

Gas prices exceeded $4 per gallon average at the end of March, but prices fell below that in mid-June and continued to drop as crude oil prices improved when the U.S. and Iran agreed on an interim deal to end the war. 

The Associated Press reported that oil prices have soared again in recent days as the U.S. and Iran move closer to resuming an all-out war.

RELATED: Survey shows gas-price pain rising even as economic confidence stabilizes

Separately, Brent crude oil, the international standard, dipped slightly on Monday trading in the U.S. — down $1.64 to $86.46 per barrel. 

However, this is still much higher than pre-Iran war levels, when crude oil cost nearly $70 a barrel. And benchmark U.S. crude oil fell $1.87 to $79.91 per barrel.

The Source: Information for this story was The Associated Press and AAA. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.



 

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