The AAA national average for regular unleaded surged to $3.978 a gallon, up 33.4% from $2.982 just four weeks earlier, the day before the war began. U.S. pump prices are officially on track for their fastest monthly acceleration in years.
Diesel surged even harder. The national average jumped 43.2%, from $3.757 a month ago to $5.380 on Mar. 27.
In California, average diesel prices have crossed $7 a gallon.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, diesel has crossed $7.50 per gallon, a price point that, three months ago, would have seemed fictional.
In San Rafael, diesel sits at $7.687. Regular unleaded in the same city costs more than what diesel cost nationally just thirty days ago.
Fuel Grade
Current Avg.
One Month Ago
MoM Change
Regular Unleaded
$3.978
$2.982
+33.4%
Mid-Grade
$4.502
$3.495
+28.8%
Premium
$4.866
$3.861
+26.0%
Diesel
$5.380
$3.757
+43.2%
E85
$3.154
$2.332
+35.2%
A household driving 15,000 miles annually in a vehicle averaging 25 miles per gallon burns roughly 600 gallons of regular gasoline per year.
At last month’s $2.982 national average, annual fuel cost came to approximately $1,789.
At Friday’s $3.978, the same household now spends approximately $2,387, an increase of roughly $597 per year that emerged in under four weeks.
For diesel-dependent drivers, long-haul truckers, fleet operators, agricultural equipment users, the math is more punishing.
At $5.380 nationally, and above $7 in ...
