A Four-Year High

Drivers across the United States are waking up to a harsh reality this morning. For the first time since August 2022, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has exceeded $4.00. According to the latest AAA data from April 2, 2026, the average now sits at **$4.08**, with West Coast markets like California already seeing prices approach $6.00.

1. Geopolitical Tension in the Strait of Hormuz

The primary driver behind this sudden 30% jump is the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Recent disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz—a critical corridor for global oil shipments—have sent West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices soaring past **$100 per barrel**. When crude oil increases this rapidly, the “pass-through” to the pump is almost instantaneous.

2. The EPA Emergency Waiver

In response to supply constraints, the EPA has issued an emergency waiver effective May 1, 2026. This waiver allows for a common RVP standard to help stabilize the market. As we discussed in our recent guide on Summer vs. Winter blends, the transition to more expensive summer fuel was already putting pressure on prices; the current global instability has simply poured gasoline on that fire.

3. Regional Extremes

The “pain at the pump” is not distributed equally. While states like Oklahoma ($3.27) and Kansas ($3.33) remain the least expensive, California ($5.89) and Washington ($5.36) are facing record-breaking territory. This $2.62 gap between the highest and lowest states is one of the largest regional disparities we have tracked in the history of this site.