Gas Prices Continue Upward March, Hitting $3.63 Average Nationally and Over $5 in California

Gas prices are rising again and expected to go higher in the near term due to factors like summer fuel switches, higher demand, and geopolitics.

The national average for unleaded gas is currently $3.63 per gallon, up 6 cents from last week and 23 cents from last month.

Inflation hit a higher-than-expected rate in February, with gas prices increasing 1.7% month-over-month. This was a large driver of overall inflation.

The West Coast is seeing the highest gas prices, averaging $5.41/gallon in California. Over half of U.S. states are now above $4/gallon.

Experts say fears of escalating geopolitical conflicts, like the Russia-Ukraine war and potential Iranian retaliation against Israel, are keeping oil and gas prices high.