Reuters reported on Sept. 5, 2026 that the U.S. national average gasoline price was above $4 per gallon ahead of the Labor Day weekend, with pressures cited from crude oil, refinery utilisation, inventories and exports. The figure was presented as a measured national average in the Reuters report. [2]
What Reuters said about drivers
The Reuters story attributed the higher national average to rising crude prices, elevated refinery utilisation, tighter inventories and increased exports of refined products — factors the report identified as contributing to upward pressure on pump prices. [2]
Regional and state variation
Reuters noted that averages can vary materially by state and region; the national figure summarises broad trends but will not reflect local price differences at the pump. Readers should treat the Reuters national average as a headline measure that masks state‑level variation. [2]
What consumers should know
Prices can change quickly; the Reuters report recommends monitoring official weekly price and inventory releases and updated retail averages to see whether the trend persists beyond the holiday weekend. The measurement and reporting date in the Reuters item should be used when comparing later data. [2]
