2020 – The COVID‑19 pandemic drives the annual national gasoline average to a historic low of $2.17 per gallon, setting a benchmark that later forecasts reference as the lowest since the pandemic‑induced slump[2].

May 2021 – The U.S. average climbs back to $3.05 per gallon, and on May 2, 2021 the day President Trump enters the White House, the nationwide price sits at $3.125 per gallon[3], illustrating the post‑pandemic price rebound.

Late Nov 2025 – A brief year‑over‑year price spike pushes gasoline slightly above the previous month’s level, marking the last time prices exceed the low‑price trend before a sustained decline[1].

Nov 30, 2025 – The national average drops below $3 per gallon for the first time in over four years; every state reports lower prices, with dozens of stations in Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas selling at $1.99 or less; GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan remarks that “the speed and breadth of the decline is remarkable”[9].

Dec 2, 2025 – The average falls to $2.998 per gallon, the lowest since May 2021, while 18 states dip below $2.75; crude oil sits near $59 a barrel after higher U.S. output and OPEC expansion, and analysts warn that “if OPEC does not intervene to reduce the supply glut, Brent could fall into the low $50s by Q4 next year and into the $40s by end‑2026”[1].

Dec 4, 2025 – Columbus’s 10TV launches an interactive map showing local low‑price stations and cites the national average’s recent dip below $3, reinforcing the broader price‑trend narrative[6].

Dec 8, 2025 – GasBuddy data record a $2.897 national average, the lowest in roughly 1,680 days; California peaks at $4.414, Oklahoma hits $2.298, and a few dozen stations already sell under $2; De Haan attributes the plunge to “refinery maintenance largely complete and OPEC increasing oil production for December”[3].

Dec 23, 2025 – AAA reports December as the cheapest month of the year, with the national average hovering around $2.85‑$2.86; WTI crude stays under $60 per barrel, while inflation cools to 2.7 % YoY but consumer confidence hits its lowest level since April[4].

Jan 7, 2026 – GasBuddy forecasts the 2026 annual average at $2.97 per gallon, the lowest since 2020; current pump prices sit near $2.81‑$2.82; President Trump claims “prices are falling tremendously,” yet De Haan cautions the decline stems from “global market forces, not solely presidential action”; the firm warns of a spring uptick to low $3.20, a June softening, and a $2.80 average by December[2].

Feb 19, 2026 – GasBuddy’s year‑long analysis identifies Sunday as the cheapest day to fill up nationwide, while Wednesday‑Friday are consistently pricier; states such as Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Texas and parts of the West Coast exhibit sharp “price‑cycling” spikes, allowing drivers to save 15‑45 cents per gallon by waiting five to seven days after a spike; the company advises using its app and warns that Tuesdays and Saturdays tend to be the most expensive days[5][8].