National Average Gas Price Reaches $4.10 Per Gallon Across 31 States
A sustained rise in fuel costs above $4.00 per gallon in more than half of U.S. states marks a pressure point for household budgets and energy policy heading into the 2026 midterm cycle.
The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline stood at $4.097 per gallon as of August 25, 2026, according to AAA price tracking data cited by the Washington Examiner. That figure represents an increase from $4.065 per gallon recorded one week earlier, and a marginal decline from $4.099 per gallon reported the prior Monday. AAA is the source of record for the figures cited throughout this report.
Thirty-one states now carry average retail gasoline prices above $4.00 per gallon, according to the same AAA data. The Washington Examiner report did not itemize which 31 states crossed that threshold. The full state-by-state breakdown is publicly available through AAA's daily fuel gauge report at gasprices.aaa.com, which would identify the specific states and their averages.
Federal energy pricing data is tracked separately by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, which publishes weekly retail gasoline prices by region and grade. As of the publication of this article, the EIA's most recent weekly report had not been cross-referenced in the source material. A direct comparison of AAA and EIA figures would clarify whether the two datasets are in alignment for the current reporting period.
The political implications of elevated fuel costs are a recurring factor in congressional election cycles. The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee both hold jurisdiction over federal energy policy, and neither chamber has advanced legislation specifically targeting retail gasoline prices in the current session, based on publicly available congressional records at congress.gov.
What remains unknown includes the specific list of the 31 states above $4.00, the breakdown by fuel grade beyond regular unleaded, and whether any pending federal regulatory action by the Department of Energy or the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to affect near-term retail prices. Those details would be found in EIA weekly reports, EPA rulemaking dockets, and DOE press releases, all of which are publicly accessible.