Gas prices continue to climb

Josh Kelly

The Oklahoman USA TODAY NETWORK

Oklahomans search for ways to save at pumps

Gas prices are at $4.36 per gallon nationally, and Oklahomans are officially seeing higher-than-typical prices.

According to GasBuddy, the nation has seen consistent higher prices since mid-February, which is in line with the start of the Iran-American war.

The average gallon of gas in Oklahoma are sitting around $3.70, with Oklahoma City sitting right below $3.66 per gallon. Prices haven’t been this high since August 2023.

Here’s why gas prices are so high today and how you can still save a few dollars on each fill up.

Why are gas prices so high?

The price of gas has risen recently because of the war in Iran, according to President Donald Trump.

Oil is the base ingredient used by the nation’s refiners to create fuels for cars, trains, aircraft and other vehicles. When oil prices climb, refiners need more to acquire future oil supplies to keep operating, leading to higher costs for customers.

Trump acknowledged that the price of oil and gas may go up as the conflict ramps up, saying on March 3, “We have a little high oil prices for a little while, but as soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe lower than ever before.”

The rising gas prices are not a concern for Trump, as he tells Reuters the military operation “is far more important than having gasoline prices go up a little bit.”

GasBuddy, a tracker for more than 150,000 stations nationwide, analyzed gas price patterns and found that purchasing gas earlier in the week is

Taylor Bearinger of Detroit pumps gas at a Shell station in Detroit on April 28. “In a week I’ve spent $100 on gas,” he said. “This is my second time filling up this week and I work from home.”

DAVID RODRIGUEZ MUÑOZ/DETROIT FREE PRESS

statistically better than purchasing toward the end of the week.

This yield is typically 4 to 9 cents cheaper per gallon.

“Gas prices don’t just move based on global oil markets — they also follow a weekly rhythm,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted. “For most drivers, Sunday is the safest bet for finding lower prices, while filling up midweek can mean paying more.”

Why are gas prices cyclical?

National and international events do impact the price of gas in America, but De Haan says some states do ebb and flow before another spike comes, hiking the prices up.

GasBuddy found that gasoline prices start low on Sunday and Monday. Then, by midweek, particularly Wednesday through Friday, it tends to be more expensive.

Then, they go down.

The reason for this, De Haan said, is tied to gas-price competition.

By Saturday, the stations start to reset their prices.

“These states experience sharper and more predictable weekly swings,” De Haan said, adding that “if drivers notice a big jump, patience can pay off. Waiting several days after a spike often leads to better prices.”

As gas is currently spiking, De Haan said be on the look out for gas prices five to seven days after a spike as the price can be as low as15 to 45 cents per gallon.

You also can use apps, like GasBuddy’s Find Cheap Fuel app, that tell you where to find lower prices.