Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Regular gas fell to $4.35 a gallon after a record September, but diesel sits near $6.20 and new tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz could push prices back up.
Gas prices are easing after the most expensive September on record, but they remain far above where American households were a year ago. The U.S. Energy Information Administration put the national average for regular gasoline at $4.35 a gallon in its October 5 weekly survey. That is down 11 cents from the week before and still $1.23 higher than the same week in 2025. These are moving numbers as of this week and are expected to keep shifting with the war news.
Diesel tells a harder story. The EIA average for on-highway diesel was $6.20 a gallon, down 18 cents in a week but nearly $2.49 above a year ago. AAA reported that September's monthly gasoline average reached $4.33, about 50 cents above the previous September record set in 2023. The West Coast carries the heaviest load, with California near $6.23 a gallon in the EIA survey. The Gulf Coast is the cheapest region at about $3.91.
The relief traces back to crude oil. Brent crude, which ran near $130 a barrel earlier in the war with Iran, has fallen to roughly $100. Ship-tracking data from Kpler, cited by Reuters, shows oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz at or near prewar volumes for the first time. The picture is not settled. Iran has stepped up attacks on tankers in the strait, and UK maritime authorities logged nine attacks so far in October. Oil prices ticked back up Wednesday morning on that news, so the dip at the pump may not hold.
For a prepared household, the lesson of this year is how fast a conflict overseas reaches the family budget. The Strait of Hormuz carries a large share of the world's oil, and every disruption there has shown up at the pump within days. High diesel matters even if you never buy it. Diesel moves the trucks that stock grocery shelves, which is how war abroad empties plates at home through higher food prices.
A lower price week is a good time to build a buffer, not just to enjoy the savings. Fill up while prices dip and keep your tank above half so a sudden spike or shortage does not catch you on empty. Put a portion of the weekly savings into your economic preparedness plan, and keep some cash in a crisis reserve for the days card systems or budgets get tight. If you drive long distances for work, plan your trips now so you can cut miles quickly when prices climb again.
Where it stands now: gasoline and diesel are falling week over week, but both sit well above last year and crude remains sensitive to every tanker attack. Check your fuel level and your emergency budget this week. Be Prepared Not Scared!
