Record high gas prices expected for Labor Day
Record high gas prices expected for Labor Day
Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily PressThu, September 3, 2026 at 10:07 AM UTC
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Back on Labor Day weekend 2017, many San Bernardino County motorists complained that gas prices were too high at around $2.70 per gallon.
Today, motorists would probably dance at the pump if they paid yesteryear’s prices, especially after the recent news from the fuel-saving platform, GasBuddy.
The fuel expert on Tuesday released its annual Labor Day gas price forecast, predicting that average gas prices will hover close to $5.60 per gallon in San Bernardino County.
The average price of gas in California is expected to hit the $5.70 per gallon mark.
GasBuddy said on the last summer holiday weekend of 2026, the national average will be $4.03 per gallon, 87 cents higher than in 2025.
It will also be the highest Labor Day price at the pump on record in nominal terms, surpassing the previous record of $3.83 per gallon in 2012, according to GasBuddy.
Labor Day is the first Monday of September each year, which in 2026 falls on Sept. 7.
Challenging year for motorists
"It's been a challenging year for motorists, with constant ups and downs at the pump that stayed elevated into this final summer holiday, though relief may lie ahead if tensions ease," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
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He added that last year saw the cheapest Labor Day since 2020, but the pendulum has swung wildly this summer.
“This year has been less about typical supply and demand, and more about uncertainty over how global tensions will affect the availability of crude oil and refined products,” De Haan said.
Disruptions cause high prices
While it will be the most expensive Labor Day weekend on record, prices remain volatile amid geopolitical tensions that have disrupted global oil and refined product markets, GasBuddy said.
Conflict involving Iran has threatened traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for the world's crude oil, while drone strikes on Russian refineries have reduced refining capacity abroad, tightening worldwide supplies of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, GasBuddy added.
“These disruptions have disconnected crude oil prices from fuel prices, pushing refining margins, or "crack spreads," to record levels, a dynamic that could keep fuel prices elevated this fall and may push diesel prices to record highs in the weeks ahead, according to GasBuddy.
Relief is on the way
GasBuddy said relief is on the way in the week ahead, as gasoline demand, after peaking in mid-July, will continue to decelerate, giving the market “needed breathing room.”
The change back to cheaper winter gasoline will happen in much of the nation after September 15, also providing price relief. With ongoing geopolitical tensions, some of the relief may take longer to appear, GasBuddy said.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Record high gas prices expected for Labor Day
Source: “AOL Money”
