Many are asking when the return of President Donald Trump for a second term lower gas prices. Many in North Georgia experienced nearly $4 a gallon over the past four years with prices currently hovering just under $3 a gallon.
The AAA Motor Club said gas prices began falling in December but may not fall a lot further until next fall. The reason for lack of cheap gas is spring and summer travel. It’s a matter of supply and demand.
That could change as numerous oil pipelines resumed this past week after Trump signed an executive order to restart them, reversing a halt on oil leases and pipeline production that former President Joe Biden initiated in 2021.
It isn’t known exactly how or when increased oil production will affect prices at the pump. Oil was around $70 a barrel in December, falling slightly from previous months. However, the U.S. Energy Information Administration issued a Jan. 22 brief that it expects a lower price for crude oil will lead to a decrease in gas prices this year and through 2026.
On average across the U.S., prices are anticipated to drop slightly by 3 percent in 2025 and another 6 percent in 2026. That’s 11 cents and 18 cents, respectively.
The key times to see drops are throughout the rest of January and early in 2026, according to EIA data.
Some of the final pricing depends on where you live. Those living closer to oil hubs are going to see cheaper prices. States the cheapest gas are Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Iowa, and Alabama. Georgia falls in the middle-ground of national gas prices with states like Nevada, California, and Washington showing gas prices around $4 a gallon.
Another factor in gas prices is the tax each state levies onto each gallon. Gov. Brian Kemp suspended the state excise tax over the past few years with 28.7 cents per gallon tax sunsetting last November. Other states may have higher or lower excise taxes, resulting in higher costs.