Gas Streak Tops 2022 Record as Crude Falls
Fleet operators and fuel-heavy businesses may see early relief as crude dips below $100 per barrel.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Oil and Gas
Live Poll
Are gas prices making it harder for your household to afford everyday expenses?
The national average price for regular gasoline has stayed above $4 per gallon, extending a streak that has now passed the 158-consecutive-day record set in 2022. Regular gasoline fell 14 cents per gallon over the last seven days as crude oil dropped below $100 per barrel, a move that matters for fuel-dependent operators.
Why it matters
Pump prices are beginning to follow the decline in crude oil, which tracks lower input costs for businesses that buy fuel for delivery fleets, service vehicles, and commuting staff. The timing matters because demand softened at the same time, with weekly gasoline consumption falling from 8.98 million to 8.38 million barrels per day.
The national average regular gasoline price is about $4.16 per gallon, 23 cents below a month ago and $1.13 above a year ago. West Texas Intermediate settled at $102.78 per barrel Wednesday and traded below $100 at $96.88 on Monday, November 2.
The players
American Automobile Association (AAA)
A nonprofit membership organization that publishes gasoline price tracking for drivers and local markets across the United States.
Energy Information Administration (EIA)
The federal statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that publishes weekly petroleum supply and demand data used across the energy and fuel industries.
The details
Retail gasoline prices lag crude oil movements, so the drop in crude below $100 per barrel is only now showing up at the pump. Lower refinery input costs typically pass through to wholesale and retail fuel prices over subsequent weeks. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 205.3 million barrels to 209.2 million, according to Energy Information Administration data, which adds to the downward pressure on prices.
Timeline
Mid-October 2026: The national gasoline price streak above $4 surpassed the 158-day record set in 2022.
Last seven days before November 2, 2026: Regular gasoline fell 14 cents per gallon.
Wednesday before November 2, 2026: West Texas Intermediate settled at $102.78 per barrel.
Monday, November 2, 2026: West Texas Intermediate traded below $100 at $96.88.
Market Landscape
The current streak has now passed the 158-consecutive-day record set in 2022, which marks the longest sustained period of elevated national gasoline prices in the recent comparison. Crude oil falling below $100 per barrel is the first clear signal in this cycle that wholesale costs are easing, though pump prices remain about $1.13 above their level a year ago.
Fleet operators and businesses with significant fuel spend should track whether the 14-cent weekly decline continues into the next few reporting periods. Procurement and finance teams may want to review fuel budgets against current pump prices, since demand softening and rising supply suggest some near-term relief is possible.
The takeaway
Watch the weekly Energy Information Administration gasoline supply and demand data to see whether the drop in demand and rise in supply keep pump prices falling. Businesses with fuel-heavy budgets should compare current pump prices against their assumptions and confirm those assumptions with their accountant before adjusting forecasts.
Further reading
For more on how crude and refined fuel markets move, see Oil and Gas coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WKDZ.
Live Poll
Are gas prices making it harder for your household to afford everyday expenses?
