The claim is false because available reporting says the U.S. National average was about $3.14 per gallon a year earlier, not $4.13.
False
Gas prices a year ago were $4.13.
Gasoline prices: cyclical trends and market developments : Beyond the Numbers : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Source: bls.gov
At a glance
Verified August 17, 2026Key Evidence
The Washington Examiner, citing AAA, reported that the national average one year earlier was $3.1381 per gallon.
The FRED and BLS historical gasoline-price databases provide authoritative records for checking the exact date and measure, although the search excerpts do not show the relevant observation.
Therefore, $4.13 is inconsistent with the cited national-average comparison.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
The statement does not specify a location, fuel grade, or exact date, but its natural reading is the U.S. National average around August 2025, compared with the current date of August 17, 2026.
The Washington Examiner reported on August 17, 2026, that the national average was $4.06 per gallon and that the comparable price a year earlier was $3.1381 per gallon, according to AAA. That directly conflicts with the claimed $4.13 figure.
The FRED series for U.S. Regular gasoline and the Bureau of Labor Statistics gasoline-price series are appropriate primary datasets for checking historical prices. However, the supplied search excerpts do not display the specific August 2025 observation needed to independently confirm the exact historical value. The available evidence nevertheless supports approximately $3.14, not $4.13.
The $4.13 figure could refer to a particular state, metropolitan area, fuel type, or different date, but no such scope is provided in the claim. As written, it is not supported by the available evidence.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source