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Gas price spike hits consumers as Iran war continues
LiveNOW’s Mike Pache is speaking with economic strategist, Dan Varroney as average gas prices nationwide are up more than $1 per gallon since the war in Iran began at the end of February. According to experts, prices at the pump are expected to remain high through the summer. This comes as President Donald Trump says a second round of talks between the United States and Iran could happen "over the next two days," according to a recent interview with the New York Post.
Gas prices are climbing sharply across the U.S., leaving no state untouched, according to new data.
The national average hit $4.11 per gallon on April 15, 2026 – a steep 29.5% jump from a year ago – with double-digit increases in every state and metro.
While some states, including California and Hawaii, continue to see high prices, the financial company LendingTree examined where gas prices have increased the most over the past year.
Where have gas prices increased the most?
By the numbers:
Not surprisingly, average gas prices increased by double digits in every state between April 15, 2025, and April 15, 2026.
The average gas price increased the most in Kentucky by 42.5% from $2.80 to $3.98 per gallon, followed by Tennessee (42.2%, from $2.72 to $3.86) and New Hampshire (38.8% from $2.85 to $3.96).
Where have gas prices increased the least?
The other side:
Meanwhile, average gas prices increased the least in Nebraska between April 15, 2025, and April 15, 2026 — though the change was still significant. There, gas prices rose 18.4% from $3.06 to $3.63.
U.S. gas prices surged to a $4.11 national average on April 15, 2026, up nearly 30% year-over-year. (Credit: Alain JOCARD / AFP via Getty Images)
North Dakota, where prices increased 18.6% from $3.05 to $3.62, and Minnesota and South Dakota, where prices rose 19.5% from $3.10 and $3.08 to $3.71 and $3.68, followed.
See the full report here.
Biggest metro increases in Kentucky and Tennessee
Dig deeper:
Similarly, average gas prices increased in every tracked metro.
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, Kentucky saw the largest increase, with gas prices rising by 50.9% from $2.64 to $3.98. This was followed by Cleveland, Tennessee, where prices increased by 48.9%, from $2.58 to $3.84, and Bowling Green, Kentucky, with a 48.3% increase from $2.68 to $3.98.
In contrast, Rapid City, South Dakota, saw average gas prices rise the least, by 11.9% from $3.39 to $3.79. Rounding out the top three lowest increases were Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota, where prices rose by 13.1%, and North Platte, Nebraska, where prices increased by 13.9%.
Gas prices continue to surge
By the numbers:
This data comes as gas prices continue to impact consumers amid ongoing inflation fueled by the war in Iran.
According to the latest data from the Labor Department, gas prices drove up inflation significantly in March.
RELATED: Inflation 2026: Gas prices drove March numbers up to levels not seen in years
In fact, gas prices pushed inflation up in March to the biggest year-over-year increase since May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data.
As of April 15, 2026, the highest average gas price nationwide was in California ($5.88 per gallon), followed by Hawaii ($5.65) and Washington ($5.39), the new data revealed.
Conversely, Oklahoma had the lowest average gas price at $3.44 per gallon, followed by Kansas ($3.51) and North Dakota ($3.62).
The Source: The information for this story was provided by LendingTree, which analyzed AAA data on average regular gas prices in states and metros. Prices were as of April 15, 2026, and were compared to those on April 15, 2025. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data was used to calculate average historical prices of regular gas per gallon. This story was reported from Los Angeles. Previous FOX Local reporting contributed.