Pump prices have drivers running on fumes...

Answer: About $19 more

(As of May 6, 2026, the national average for a gallon of regular was $4.54. One year ago, on May 8, 2025, the national average was $3.15. That's a difference of $1.39 per gallon, or about $19 more for a 14-gallon fill-up.)

Question:

• If you fill up a car's gas tank once a week, how much more would you spend on gas over a year compared to last year?
• What tradeoffs might a household make when gas prices rise this sharply?

• Beyond gasoline, what other goods or services might become more expensive when gas prices rise, and why?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (AAA Fuel Prices):

"The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline reached $4.54 on May 6, 2026, the highest level since the summer of 2022. Just one year ago, drivers were paying $3.15 per gallon. That's a jump of about $1.39 per gallon. For a driver filling up a typical 14-gallon tank, that works out to roughly $19 more every time they pull up to the pump. A household that fills up once a week would spend nearly $1,000 more on gas over the course of a year at these prices."

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

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