Gas prices hit record high for August, third time above $4 this year
National average gasoline price has never exceeded $4/gal this late in a calendar year, with the milestone reached three times in 2026.
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Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 6 items across 3 sources · 12m ago. Quotes are verbatim.
What to know
- Gas prices hit an all-time high for any date on or after August 12, with the national average crossing $4/gal for the third time in 2026—a new record for same-year crossings.
- The spike reflects ongoing Middle East conflict (specifically Iran war) that has closed the Strait of Hormuz and elevated global energy prices; a year ago the average was roughly $3.14/gal.
- The Trump administration is deploying multiple measures—waiving the Jones Act, authorizing higher-ethanol blends, releasing oil reserves—to control prices ahead of midterm elections in less than 100 days.
How it unfolded
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The Washington Examiner reported that the price spike comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to ease elevated prices and the ongoing Iran war, which has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed and elevated global energy prices.
“The national average price of gas is at its highest level ever for this late in the calendar year amid the Trump administration's efforts to ease elevated prices.”
Washington Examiner · Press ↗ -
The Hill and other outlets covered GasBuddy's announcement that gas prices reached the highest-ever level for this time of year on Wednesday.
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De Haan declared that the national average has never been above $4/gal after August 12 in any previous year, making this the highest-ever level this late in the calendar year.
“the national average has never been above $4/gal after Aug. 12 in any previous year- ever.”
Patrick De Haan · Bluesky ↗ -
Patrick De Haan at GasBuddy announced on Bluesky that the national average price of gasoline has risen back above $4/gal for the third time in the same calendar year, setting a new record.
“The national average price of gasoline has risen back above $4/gal for the third time in the same calendar year, a new record.”
Patrick De Haan · Bluesky ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“the national average has never been above $4/gal after Aug. 12 in any previous year- ever.”
Patrick De Haan, Head of petroleum analysis, GasBuddy · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 11
“The national average price of gasoline has risen back above $4/gal for the third time in the same calendar year, a new record.”
Patrick De Haan, Head of petroleum analysis, GasBuddy · Bluesky ↗ · Aug 11
“The national average price of gas is at its highest level ever for this late in the calendar year amid the Trump administration's efforts to ease elevated prices.”
Washington Examiner, News outlet · Washington Examiner · Aug 11
“As soon as the situation with Iran ends, oil is going to go down, and we will have completed something in such a short amount of time, that is a miracle.”
Donald Trump, President · Washington Examiner ↗ · Aug 11
“When oil goes down, and it's going to go down very rapidly, and is already happening. We may have to send it up again… But when the oil and gasoline go down, everything else goes down.”
Donald Trump, President · Washington Examiner ↗ · Aug 11
Voices from the web unedited
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BREAKING: the national average is now at its highest ever level this late in the calendar year, according to GasBuddy data. Meaning the national average has never been above $4/gal after Aug. 12 in any previous year- ever.
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BREAKING: The national average price of gasoline has risen back above $4/gal for the third time in the same calendar year, a new record.