Gas prices this Labor Day weekend poised to be the highest on record

Eastern Arizona Courier ^ | September 1, 2026 | Staff

[Trump20162020]

DALLAS — Motorists are expected to encounter the highest average Labor Day gasoline price on record in nominal terms, according to a forecast released Tuesday by fuel-savings platform GasBuddy.

The company projects the national average will reach $4.03 per gallon during the holiday weekend, 87 cents higher than the $3.16 average recorded in 2025. The forecast would surpass the previous nominal Labor Day record of $3.83 per gallon, set in 2012.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: affordability; gas; gasoline; gasprices; inflation; laborday

[Kleon]

Trump needs to expand Freedom Fuel outside on PA.

[butlerweave]

I don’t travel anymore so I must be saving a mint ? right ,LOL

[JZelle]

This never happened under democrat rule. Let’s go AOC!

[Organic Panic]

Diesel up to 6.10 in eastern oregon. Gasoline nearly 5 now.

[who knows what evil?]

Driving less...

[Round Earther]

“Trump needs to expand Freedom Fuel outside on PA.”

It seems Freedom Fuel, even after selling gas far cheaper than all its competitors, earned higher margins than any gas station in history.

[Tell It Right]

Agreed. Notice the article uses the word “nominal” over and over. It means without adjusting for inflation.

[Texas Eagle]

Slightly skewed because CA pays $1.80/gal in taxes alone and we have more gas stations than any other state.

[TBP]

Peak Biden gas price was higher than any price we’ve seen under Trump.

[EandH Dad]

Headline should say “highest for the month of August” instead of intimating it’s the highest of all time.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Here’s what I do - and I have survived EVERY President since JFK.

I buy gas on the same day every week (or two) as needed. It’s called ‘Dollar Cost Averaging’ and whether gas is high or low, it all evens out in the end. It’s also a good way to invest - put the same amount weekly, monthly, into your brokerage accounts and high or low, over the course of a year, you will ‘Dollar Cost Average’ and usually come out ahead.

Also, check Gas Buddy for the cheapest gas in your area:

https://www.gasbuddy.com/home

One thing I really like about that site is that they NEVER run around with their hair on fire, unlike this current crop of FReepers.

*SMIRK*

[thegagline]

It seems Freedom Fuel, even after selling gas far cheaper than all its competitors, earned higher margins than any gas station in history.

Perhaps because the gasoline was stolen:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4393824/posts

[bray]

Could be worse, you could live in California.

[God luvs America]

“The company projects the national average will reach $4.03 per gallon during the holiday weekend, 87 cents higher than the $3.16 average recorded in 2025. “

and its blue states like Kalifornia that drive up the national average....

[newfreep]

Here in Greene County near WPAFB (SW Ohio), the prices are continuing to fall

[Leaning Right]

> I don’t travel anymore so I must be saving a mint ? right ,LOL <

I’m in the same boat. Unfortunately, much of what we buy travels by truck or train. So that gas increase is baked into the price.

I’ll leave it to others to debate the wisdom of the current Iran conflict. And I know that inflation under Biden was worse.

I also know this. There will be a lot of unhappy voters come this November. They’re wondering what happened to the whole MAGA deal.

Yeah, maybe they’re a bunch of dummies. But dummies have the vote, too.

[Red6]

2012: $3.83.

That was 14 years AGO!!!!

Not counting the inflation of 2012 of 3%.

Using our federal governments almost comical under stating of the national inflation per year.

Third column is inflation adjusted.

2013: 1.75 3.897
2014: 1.5 3.955
2015: .75 3.98
2016: .75 4.01
2017: 2 4.09
2018: 2 4.18
2019: 2 4.26
2020: 2.2 4.35
2021: 1.25 4.41
2022: 7 4.72
2023: 6.5 5.02
2024: 3.3 5.19
2025: 2.9 5.34
2026: 1.75 5.43

5.43 - 4.03 = 1.32

The cost of gas per gallon, was in 2013, inflation adjusted (what the consumer feels in terms of impact on their pocketbook), nearly 35% higher than today.

Money looses roughly 50% of it’s buying power every 25 years, and when you start talking a 14 year window, with high inflation times included 2022-2023, you CANNOT compare things in earnest using absolute prices.

Everything gets more expensive over time.

Correct me if my reasoning is wrong.

[chuck allen]

But remember, that was “Putins price hike.” Wasn’t bidens fault. /s

[chuck allen]

But remember, that was “Putins price hike.” Wasn’t bidens fault. /s