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Michigan gas prices hit new high for 2026
Inflation, gas prices jump in August
US consumer prices accelerated in August, while a key measure of underlying inflation posted its largest increase in four months.
Gasoline prices in Michigan have risen 62 cents since last week, averaging $4.93 a gallon and hitting the highest price of 2026, AAA-The Auto Group announced Monday.
That is 72 cents more than a month ago and $1.75 higher compared to the same time in 2025, officials said.
GasBuddy reported the national price Monday at $4.44, a 19-cent increase since last week.
The price in Detroit is about $4.90 a gallon, up 60 cents from last week, according to the Dallas-based fuel tracker’s survey of 1,734 stations in Detroit.
Motorists in Michigan are paying an average of $74 for a full 15-gallon tank, an increase of about $23 from last August’s high, AAA reported.
What’s behind the trend
“Average gasoline prices rose in virtually every state over the last week, with 45 states seeing increases of more than 3 cents per gallon, led by the Great Lakes region where refinery issues sent Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin all up more than 30 cents per gallon,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“Diesel rose in every state, with five states seeing increases exceeding 50 cents per gallon, as continued strikes on Russian oil refineries tighten global diesel supply, a pressure further amplified in the Great Lakes by regional refinery issues. Any broader directional change will depend heavily on overseas developments, and with new Houthi attacks and fresh U.S.-Iran escalations, the outlook remains deeply uncertain.”
The company reported the national average price of diesel rose 31 cents compared to a week ago, to $6.49 per gallon.
The Energy Information Administration reported gasoline demand rose from 8.55 million barrels per day to 8.79 million, while total domestic gasoline supply climbed from 206.9 million barrels to 207.7 million. Gasoline production also grew, from 9.3 million barrels per day to 9.6 million.
The EIA reported crude oil inventories dropped by 0.6 million barrels from the previous week. At 423.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are 1% above the five-year average for this time of year, officials said.
Regional prices
GasBuddy said Detroit’s pump price is 69 cents higher than last month and $1.75 per gallon higher than a year ago.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Detroit was $4.19 on Sunday, while the most expensive reached $6.09. The lowest price in the state was $4.19 Sunday, while the highest was $6.09.
Nationally, GasBuddy’s average is up 34 cents from a month ago and stands $1.30 higher than a year ago, based on data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering some 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Metro Detroit’s current average is $4.92 per gallon, AAA said. That is about 62 cents more than last week and $1.73 above the same time a year ago.
The most expensive gas price averages are in Ann Arbor ($4.97), Lansing ($4.95) and Jackson ($4.95).
The least expensive prices are in Marquette ($4.79), Traverse City ($4.85) and Flint ($4.90).
“Michigan drivers are seeing a significant increase at the pump, with gas prices climbing 62 cents in just one week and reaching their highest levels since July 2022,” said Adrienne Woodland, AAA’s spokesperson, in a release. “This sharp jump highlights the continued volatility of the global oil market and its impact on drivers.”
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