Gas Prices Rise Across U.S. Despite Trump's Promise of Lower Costs

The cost of filling up continued to rise for many Americans this week, with gasoline prices increasing since the start of the Iran war more than six months ago, Mary Walrath-Holdridge reported for USA TODAY.

Gasoline prices continued to rise across the United States in September as higher energy costs put pressure on consumers.

The increase has become a challenge for the Trump administration as the midterm elections approach.

President Donald Trump addressed concerns about rising fuel costs at a Sept. 16 rally in Gastonia, North Carolina.

“It's a very inexpensive price to pay for what we've done. Remember that,” Trump said. “It's a little more. Frankly, even if it was a lot more ... But that's going to come tumbling down.”

The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $4.44 on Thursday, Sept. 17, up from $4.37 the previous day and $4.28 a week earlier, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The national average had reached a reported high of $5.02 on Monday, Sept. 14. The Sept. 17 average was more than $1.20 higher than a year earlier.

California, Alaska and Hawaii recorded some of the highest statewide averages on Sept. 17, at $6.01, $5.07 and $5.48, respectively. California had the highest statewide average at $6.09, followed by Washington at $5.58 and Nevada at $5.19.