The average price of gasoline in the United States rose again in July 2026, surpassing $4.11 per gallon, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA).
Telemundo 51 reported that the increase was approximately 20 cents compared to the average recorded in June, when the gallon had fallen below $4 for the first time since March.
The increase comes after the resumption of attacks between the United States and Iran, which has once again put pressure on global energy markets.
On July 20, the AAA was already reporting that the national average had returned to the threshold of $4 per gallon, and the trend continued to rise in the following days.
Analysts identify the primary geopolitical factor as the tension in the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which between 20% and 25% of the world's oil is transported. Any threat to that maritime corridor immediately translates into pressure on crude oil prices and, by extension, at the pump.
Volatility has been the constant throughout 2026
The year started with an average of $2.90 per gallon at the end of January, climbed to a peak of $4.56 per gallon in May —when crude oil surpassed $125 per barrel— dropped temporarily to $3.99 in June, and is now on the rise again.
In Florida, the state average stands at $3.807 per gallon as of July 27, below the national average, even though Miami had already surpassed $3.97 per gallon by mid-month, approaching the $4 threshold.
On the opposite end, California has been the most expensive state in the country, with prices ranging from $5.90 to $6.10 per gallon at various times of the year.
The president Donald Trump has sought to politically manage the impact of the price increase. On June 29, he demanded that retailers lower prices "immediately" and warned that there would be "serious problems," while setting a target of $2.50 per gallon.
On July 7, the first station of its "Freedom Fuel" network was inaugurated in Pennsylvania with gasoline priced at $3.47 per gallon, although the initiative has not had a widespread impact on the market: one station of that same network in Bensalem was already selling the gallon for $3.82 on July 21.
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