Gasoline Burden on Americans’ Wallets Hits Lowest Point Since 2005

Gas prices are delivering long-awaited relief to American households, with the Energy Information Administration projecting that U.S. drivers will spend less than 2% of their disposable income on gasoline in 2025 — the lowest share since 2005, excluding the pandemic year. Regular-grade gas is expected to average $3.10 per gallon this year and drop to about $2.90 by 2026, while Brent crude oil is forecast to fall from $68 per barrel in August to around $50 in early 2026. Acting EIA Administrator Steve Nalley noted that rising incomes, steady declines in pump prices since 2022, and expanding global oil supply are combining to make fuel costs a lighter burden on Americans’ wallets than at any point in the past two decades.