Gas Price Radar›Why are gas prices so high?
Week of September 21, 2026
Why are gas prices so high?
Break down the $4.48 national average and you get about $2.86 of crude, a wholesale gasoline price near $3.71, $0.52 in average state and federal taxes, and roughly $0.25 for everything between the terminal and your tank.
U.S. average, regular
$4.478
| Part of the price | Per gallon | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Crude oil (Brent ÷ 42 gallons) | $2.86 | 64% |
| Refining (wholesale gasoline minus crude) | $0.85 | 19% |
| Taxes (average state + federal) | $0.52 | 12% |
| Distribution, retail and margin | $0.25 | 6% |
Approximation built from EIA data: Brent and wholesale gasoline are five-day averages (September 9, 2026 to September 15, 2026); taxes are the average state rate plus the federal tax. Actual shares vary by state and by week.