FILE - A person finishes pumping gas at a Valero gas station on Oct. 22, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Despite increased demand heading into the spring break season, gas prices in the United States dipped lower this week, according to AAA.
In fact, the average gas price was under $3 a gallon in 31 states, the organization said.
Analysts have cited uncertainty over the economy, including caution over President Donald Trump’s tariffs, as playing a role in keeping prices lower in recent days. Here’s what to know:
US gas prices continue to drop
What we know:
The national average for a gallon of gas on Thursday was $3.07, according to AAA. That’s about 3 cents lower than a week ago, 8 cents lower than a month ago, and 31 cents less than a year ago. The organization said the average price for a gallon of gas was under $3 in 31 states.
Meanwhile, the national average per kilowatt-hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remained the same at 34 cents, AAA said.
Dig deeper:
Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted how the average price of gas hasn’t been this low in the month of March since 2021, when the pandemic had a significant impact on demand.
What they're saying:
"This time around, caution is also playing a role in keeping prices lower — particularly uncertainty over tariffs, which is likely having a moderate impact," De Haan said in a statement. "Concerns about the direction of the economy could have a major influence on fuel prices in the months ahead, especially with the high level of uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
"Additionally, OPEC+ announced last week that it would gradually begin restoring oil production after nearly two years of cuts, adding further downward pressure on oil prices," De Haan added. "As a result, the typical seasonal rise in gas prices has yet to materialize, and if and when it does, it may be considerably smaller than expected."
The backstory:
The Trump administration announced 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico that went into effect earlier this month, though Trump limited the levy to 10% on Canadian energy. De Haan previously predicted that tariffs on imported Canadian oil will mean higher prices in some U.S. regions in the coming weeks.
"The oil market is incredibly complex, with infrastructure developed over decades to optimize efficiency," De Haan said. "Political decisions that disrupt these systems rarely produce the intended consequences but almost always result in higher costs for everyday Americans."
De Haan added that the impact of tariffs won’t be to shift refining patterns, but rather to "add costs throughout the system, and these costs will make their way to consumers in the form of higher prices for gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products."
Most expensive US states for gas
By the numbers:
The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets as of March 13, according to AAA –
- California ($4.66)
- Hawaii ($4.54)
- Washington ($4.08)
- Nevada ($3.74)
- Oregon ($3.71)
- Alaska ($3.40)
- Arizona ($3.35)
- Illinois ($3.25)
- Pennsylvania ($3.23)
- Idaho ($3.19)
Cheapest US states for gas
By the numbers:
The nation’s least expensive gasoline markets as of March 13, according to AAA –
- Mississippi ($2.64)
- Texas ($2.66)
- Kentucky ($2.68)
- Oklahoma ($2.71)
- Louisiana ($2.72)
- Tennessee ($2.73)
- Arkansas ($2.78)
- Alabama ($2.75)
- South Carolina ($2.76)
- North Carolina ($2.78)
The Source: This story was written based on information published by AAA on March 13, 2025. It was reported from Cincinnati.