National Gas Price Average Inches Back Toward $4 per Gallon

July 16, 2026/Joe Ciccanti

AAA reports the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline went up 10 cents since last week to $3.94.  Instability along the Strait of Hormuz is contributing to the increase at the pump and pushing crude oil prices toward $80 per barrel. Most states are still averaging less than $4 per gallon. Earlier this year, the national average remained in the $4 range all of April and May and most of June. Last time the national average was $4 or above was on June 17 when it was $4.02.  The Delaware gas price average is $3.85 today, up 3 cents in the last week and 75 cents higher than one year ago. The South Jersey gas price average is $3.92 today, up 6 cents in the last week and up 90 cents compared to one year ago. The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 42 cents.

 

Additional Information from AAA:

n Pennsylvania, the gas average is $4.00 today, up a penny in the last week and up 76 cents from one year ago. The Philadelphia 5-county gas price average is $4.05 per gallon, up 11 cents from last week and up 85 cents from one year ago. The South Jersey gas price average is $3.92 today, up 6 cents in the last week and up 90 cents compared to one year ago. The Delaware gas price average is $3.85 today, up 3 cents in the last week and 75 cents higher than one year ago.

 

The national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station stayed the same this past week at 42 cents.

 

CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES

Regular Unleaded Gasoline (*indicates record high)

 

07/16/26

Week Ago

Year Ago

National

$3.94

$3.84

$3.16

Pennsylvania

$4.00

$3.99

$3.24

Philadelphia

(5-county)

$4.05

$3.94

$3.20

South Jersey

$3.92

$3.86

$3.02

Delaware

$3.85

$3.82

$3.10

Crude Oil

$79.60 per barrel

(07/15/26)

$73.52 per barrel

(07/08/26)

$67.13 per barrel (07/16/25)

 

CURRENT EV COST AVERAGES

Per kWh of electricity at an L2 commercial charging station

 

07/16/26

Week Ago

National

$0.42

$0.42

Pennsylvania

$0.43

$0.43

Delaware

$0.38

$0.38

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand remained flat last week at 8.84 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 212.1 million barrels to 210.5 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

 

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose 26 cents to settle at $79.60 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 1.7 million barrels from the previous week. At 409.7 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.

 

The Weekend

“Gas prices are on the rise again following a ceasefire breakdown the U.S. and Iran and the subsequent blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Jana Tidwell, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance. “This blockage is pitting upward pressure on crude oil prices globally and fuel prices, gasoline and diesel, are following suit. This is not good news for drivers and consumers, whose wallets have undoubtedly felt the impacts of these price increases.”

 

AAA has a variety of resources to help motorists save on fuel:

 

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