Last week, oil prices finished the week with sharp losses, settling in the $90 range per barrel in response to the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. This helped ease some pressure on pump prices, which began to stabilize as cautious optimism spread through petroleum markets that an end to the war might be in sight.
However, peace talks failed over the weekend and oil prices rose over $100 a barrel again on Monday after the U.S. announced a military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Before the war, roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas supply passed through the strait, but vessel traffic has been effectively halted by Iran since the conflict started on Feb. 28.
Despite substantially higher gas prices than this time last year, domestic demand for gasoline remains strong, according to the most recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Last week, demand settled at 8.56 million barrels a day — a decrease of 122,000 barrels a day from the previous week, but still 261,000 barrels a day higher than the comparable week last year, according to the EIA. Even as demand has been trending above last year’s levels every week since the start of the war, domestic inventories are still ahead of last year and the five-year average.
Along with demand from U.S. drivers, domestic production is also under increasing pressure from foreign export demand. Over the past four weeks, the EIA reported sizable year-over-year increases in export demand for gasoline, jet fuel and diesel products by 10%, 38% and 12% respectively.
“Pump prices in much of the Northeast took a bit of a breather last week, holding steady and even falling by a penny or two in some states as petroleum markets reacted to signs of deescalation in the ongoing conflict,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “But as the weekend ended without a peace agreement, uncertainty was brought back to the forefront in oil and gas markets.”
AAA’s April 13 survey of fuel prices found the national average up a penny from last week ($4.11), averaging $4.12 per gallon. The April 13 national average price was 49 cents higher than a month ago ($3.63) and 94 cents higher than last year ($3.18).
| Region | Current Price* | One Week Ago | One Month Ago | One Year Ago |
| Connecticut | $4.08 | $4.08 | $3.52 | $3.05 |
| Massachusetts | $3.96 | $3.93 | $3.46 | $2.95 |
| New Jersey | $4.03 | $4.09 | $3.53 | $3 |
| New York | $4.12 | $4.06 | $3.53 | $3.10 |
| Rhode Island | $3.98 | $3.99 | $3.45 | $2.94 |
*Prices as of April 13, 2026
As of April 13, Oklahoma and Kansas had the lowest prices in the nation at $3.44 and $3.49, respectively. California and Hawaii had the highest prices in the nation at $5.89 and $5.64, respectively.
The AAA Gas Prices website is your resource for up-to-date fuel price information. Search for average gas prices on national, state and metro levels by regular, plus, premium and diesel.
Last updated on April 13, 2026 by AAA Staff
Based in Rhode Island, Jillian Young is AAA Northeast’s director of public relations. She regularly appears in local TV, radio and print media to discuss traffic safety, travel, insurance and more.
