U.S. Gas Prices Fall Below $3 Nationwide

U.S. gasoline prices have dropped below $3 nationwide, with GasBuddy reporting a national average around $2.97–$2.98 — the earliest $2.99 daily average since 2020. Analysts and forecasters attribute the decline to higher OPEC+ production, weaker gasoline demand, the seasonal shift to cheaper winter-blend fuels and rising crude inventories noted by the EIA, and some predict the national average could fall into the $2.80s by year’s end. Prices remain uneven: Michigan averages about $2.79 (its lowest since April 2021) and St. Louis about $2.76, while Montana’s average is near $3.06, Western Pennsylvania pays roughly $3.32, and California, Hawaii and Washington are among the most expensive. Local bargains include individual stations selling as low as $1.99 in Colorado and bottom-decile stations averaging near $2.37 per gallon. The White House and Trump allies have publicly credited the drop to U.S. energy policies, and GasBuddy and AAA warn prices are likely to stay below year-ago levels and under $3 for the coming months absent major disruptions.