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Average U.S. gas prices now higher during Trump term than Biden's, analysis finds

financeOct 26, 202626566

A Reuters analysis found the average U.S. pump price during Donald Trump’s second term edged above the average for Joe Biden’s single term, $3.472 versus $3.471 per gallon. The Guardian reports voters remain deeply upset by high fuel costs ahead of the midterms, and a Politico poll on 10 October showed most voters would not be swayed to vote Republican even if gasoline fell by $1 a gallon. National averages for gasoline and diesel are down marginally from a month ago according to AAA but remain substantially above last year: gasoline is $4.29 per gallon, up more than $1.25 from 2025, and diesel is about $6.30 per gallon, up nearly 75% year over year. Trump has promoted measures to lower diesel costs including allowing imports of 2.24 million barrels of Russian diesel, temporarily lifting sanctions on Russian diesel, and an $8 billion one-time diesel subsidy for farmers. Energy experts cited by the Guardian say those moves will have no meaningful impact; University of Houston energy fellow Ed Hirs said “Zero. No elaboration needed,” and Dow Jones Energy’s Andrew Critchlow noted 2.24 million barrels equals about 14 hours of U.S. diesel demand against a global market of nearly 30 million barrels a day. The Guardian also reports analysts link higher energy prices to the U.S. war on Iran, which disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and warns voters are unlikely to see lower pump prices before 3 November.

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