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Are gas prices better now compared to under Biden?
Executive summary
Average U.S. pump prices have been higher during much of Joe Biden’s presidency than during some earlier periods, including Biden-era peaks above $5/gal in 2022, but recent reporting shows national averages moving down and — in some comparisons — lower than when Biden left office [1] [2] [3]. Competing accounts dispute simple political credit or blame: conservative outlets tout Trump-era nine‑month averages under $3.20 vs. Biden’s 2024 $3.30 claim [4], while fact‑checks and mainstream outlets note gas was lower in the first six months of Biden’s term and that short‑term swings complicate comparisons [5] [6].
1. How much did gasoline actually cost under Biden and now? — Numbers that matter
Data summaries in the reporting show the peak national average exceeded $5 per gallon in mid‑2022 during Biden’s term [1]. Newsweek and AAA snapshots in 2025 place recent averages around $3.21–$3.63/gal depending on the date, and some local reporting says the average is lower now than when Biden left office [2] [3]. RealClearPolitics computes a nine‑month average for Trump’s first nine months at $3.19 vs. Biden’s 2024 average of $3.30/gal, a comparison framed to favor Trump [4].
2. Why the apparent disagreement among outlets? — Different time windows and baselines
Journalists and analysts use different baselines: some compare presidents’ full‑term averages, others compare year‑to‑year snapshots or short recent declines. For example, RealClearPolitics compares Trump’s first nine months to Biden’s 2024 average [4], while CBS News emphasizes that gas was lower in the first six months of Biden’s presidency, undermining absolute “now versus then” claims [5]. Newsweek and Money highlight seasonal, geopolitical and short‑term volatility that make simple comparisons misleading [6] [7].
3. What drives gasoline prices beyond the White House? — Supply, demand, and geopolitics
Multiple analyses stress that global oil markets, OPEC+ production decisions, and demand rebounds after the pandemic are primary drivers; Heritage and Morningstar emphasize supply‑demand dynamics and international producers’ output choices, warning against attributing all price movement to a U.S. president [8] [9]. PolitiFact and Money note presidents have limited control over weekly/monthly gasoline swings [10] [7].
4. Political messaging vs. fact checks — Where claims run into scrutiny
Political actors have made definitive claims about “lowest gas prices” or dramatic drops; fact‑checks flag inaccuracies. CBS News says claims that current prices are the lowest since Trump’s first term are incorrect and notes gas was lower during Biden’s early months [5]. Newsweek reports that while prices are down from recent highs, they had risen in the months immediately preceding some of the Trump administration’s statements [2].
5. Longer‑term perspective — averages, peaks, and consumer experience
Longer‑term averages show Biden’s presidency included unusually high prices (including the $5 peak), and some outlets put the average per gallon during Biden’s tenure higher than previous averages cited for Trump [1]. Conservative commentary and local outlets emphasize recent relief or lower averages relative to Biden’s end‑of‑term figures [4] [3]. The lived experience varies by state and timing: coastal states like California stayed much higher than national averages [11].
6. What this means for the question “Are gas prices better now compared to under Biden?” — A balanced takeaway
Available sources show both that gasoline is lower than its 2022‑2024 peaks under Biden and that short‑term trends and different averaging windows can produce opposing conclusions. If “better” means lower than Biden’s 2022 peak, yes — prices fell from over $5/gal [1]. If “better” means consistently lower across Biden’s entire four years, reporting is mixed: some analyses note Biden‑era averages were higher, while other pieces and snapshots claim current averages are lower than at Biden’s departure [1] [3] [4]. Fact‑checks caution against blanket claims that a president alone caused the movement [5] [10].
Limitations: available sources do not provide a single official time‑series table in this packet to calculate like‑for‑like averages across identical date ranges; conclusions depend on which months or averages report authors choose (not found in current reporting).