According to AAA, most states – including Oregon – are seeing stable or falling gas prices this week. However, crude oil prices are rising again, which means relief at the pump might not last long. Prices continue to be volatile as markets react to developments in the Iran conflict and ongoing tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. For the week, the national average for regular gasoline declines 10 cents to $4.02 a gallon. The Oregon average slips one cent to $4.98 a gallon.
The national average for regular gas was $2.98 and Oregon’s average was $3.92 on Feb. 28, the day the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran.
Crude oil prices remain volatile, with dramatic swings driven by concerns of how the conflict with Iran impacts global oil supplies. Since the conflict with Iran started, prices for West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark for crude, have ranged between $71 and nearly $113 per barrel. Crude was at $67 per barrel on Feb. 27, the day before the conflict began.
“There’s been hope that negotiations could bring the conflict in the Middle East to an end, but so far, no lasting agreement seems to be on the table. Over the last two weeks, crude oil prices have swung wildly, climbing to nearly $113 per barrel before falling back to around $82, illustrating the volatility in the market. Normally, about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic remains at a trickle. There’s a lot of uncertainty about what happens next,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
In general, every $1 increase in the price of crude oil leads to a 2.4- to 2.5-cent increase in the price of gasoline.
The Oregon average for regular gas began 2026 at $3.42 a gallon. The highest price of the year so far is $5.014 on April 9. The lowest price of the year so far is $3.33 on Jan. 20.
This year began with the national average at $2.83 a gallon. The highest price of the year so far is $4.166 on April 9. The lowest price of the year so far is $2.795 on Jan. 11.
Oregon is one of 47 states and the District of Columbia with lower prices this week. Indiana (-18 cents) has the largest week-over-week decline in the country. Hawaii, Idaho and Alaska have tiny week-over-week increases of just one-tenth of a cent.
California ($5.83) has the most expensive gas in the nation for the 11th week in a row. Hawaii ($5.65) is second, and Washington ($5.38) is third. These are the states with averages at or above $5 per gallon. This week, there are 12 states and the District of Columbia with averages at or above $4 a gallon. This week, 35 states have averages in the $3 range. No state has an average in the $2 range this week.
The cheapest gas in the nation is in Oklahoma ($3.37) and Kansas ($3.47). No state has had an average below $2 a gallon since Jan. 7, 2021, when Mississippi and Texas were below that threshold.
The difference between the most expensive and least expensive states is $2.46 this week, compared to $2.44 a week ago.
Oregon is one of 44 states and the District of Columbia with higher prices now than a month ago. The national average is 10 cents more and the Oregon average is 16 cents more than a month ago. Hawaii (+48 cents) has the largest month-over-month jump in the nation. Georgia (-14 cents) has the largest month-over-month drop.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have higher prices now than a year ago. The national average is 87 cents more, while the Oregon average is $1.04 more. Arizona (+$1.23) has the largest year-over-year jump in the nation. Nebraska (+55 cents) has the smallest.
The West Coast region continues to have the most expensive pump prices in the nation, with all seven states in the top 10.
As mentioned above, California has the most expensive gas in the country for the 11th consecutive week. Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, and Arizona round out the top seven. Oregon is fourth most expensive for the second week in a row.
All seven states in the West Coast region have small to moderate changes in their average pump prices this week. Arizona (-10 cents), California (-6 cents), Nevada (-4 cents), Washington (-1 cent), and Oregon (-1 cent) have week-over-week declines. Hawaii (+1/10 of a cent) and Alaska (+1/10 of a cent) have tiny week-over-week increases.
For the week, the national average for diesel drops 14 cents to $5.51 a gallon. The record high is $5.816 set on June 19, 2022. The Oregon average falls nine cents to $6.25. The record high is $6.47 set on July 3, 2022. A year ago, the national average for diesel was $3.56 and the Oregon average was $3.91.
