The U.S. Vitality Info Administration (EIA) projected, in its newest quick time period power outlook (STEO), that the U.S. common gasoline retail value will common beneath $3 per gallon each this yr and subsequent yr.
Based on the STEO, which was launched on January 13, the EIA sees the U.S. common gasoline retail value averaging $2.92 per gallon in 2026 and $2.95 per gallon in 2027. In 2025, the U.S. common gasoline retail value averaged $3.10 per gallon, the STEO confirmed.
A quarterly breakdown included within the EIA’s newest STEO projected that the U.S. common gasoline retail value will are available in at $2.85 per gallon within the first quarter of 2026, $3.02 per gallon within the second quarter, $3.03 per gallon within the third quarter, $2.78 per gallon throughout the fourth quarter of this yr and the primary quarter of subsequent yr, $3.05 per gallon within the second quarter of 2027, $3.07 per gallon within the third quarter, and $2.89 per gallon within the fourth quarter of 2027.
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“U.S. retail gasoline costs in our forecast are largely decrease in 2026 and 2027 than they have been in 2025,” the EIA mentioned in its January STEO.
“We forecast U.S. gasoline costs in 2026 will common $2.92 per gallon, a lower of 18 cents per gallon, or about six %, in contrast with 2025. In 2027, we forecast retail gasoline costs will common $2.95 per gallon. Even with the slight enhance in 2027, costs stay beneath 2025 ranges in most areas,” it added.
“On each a nominal and share foundation, we estimate the worth lower in 2026 can be related in scale to the decreases in 2024 and 2025, through which costs declined by about six % yearly,” the EIA went on to state.
“After reaching document highs in 2022, gasoline value decreases mirror each lowering crude oil costs and narrowing refinery margins. In 2026, falling crude oil costs scale back retail gasoline costs, however the decline is partly offset by rising refinery margins, the primary enhance since 2022,” it continued.
The EIA went on to state in its newest STEO that, in 2026, it expects “decrease inventories of gasoline will current some upward stress for gasoline refinery margins as america loses some refinery capability on the West Coast”.
“We forecast web imports of gasoline will enhance to account for the misplaced capability and to fulfill demand. We assume most of this enhance in web imports of gasoline can be on the West Coast,” the EIA added.
“We anticipate this sample to proceed in 2027, which, mixed with slight will increase within the crude oil value, will contribute to annual will increase in gasoline costs in contrast with 2026,” it mentioned.
The EIA famous in its STEO that it estimates the retail gasoline value will lower in all U.S. areas throughout 2026. It identified that, in 2027, it expects rising retail gasoline costs in contrast with 2026 in all areas.
In a report printed just lately, GasBuddy revealed that it expects the U.S. gasoline value to common $2.97 per gallon this yr. The report revealed that GasBuddy sees December because the month with the bottom common U.S. gasoline value in 2026, at $2.83 per gallon, and Could because the month with the very best common U.S. gasoline value in 2026, at $3.12 per gallon.
GasBuddy’s stay ticking common for normal gasoline within the U.S. was $2.839 per gallon as of 5.35 am EST on January 22. The determine was 2.3 cents up from yesterday’s common, 1.1 cents down from final week’s common, 4.1 cents up from final month’s common, and 29.7 cents down from final yr’s common, GasBuddy’s web site highlighted.
The AAA Gas Costs web site confirmed that the common U.S. common gasoline value is $2.850 per gallon, as of January 22. Yesterday’s common was $2.833 per gallon, the week in the past common was $2.844 per gallon, the month in the past common was $2.855 per gallon, and the yr in the past common was $3.129 per gallon, the positioning confirmed.
The very best recorded common value of normal gasoline within the U.S. was seen on June 14, 2022, at $5.016 per gallon, the AAA Gas Costs web site outlined.
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