Comparing gas prices over the last 18 months in Arkansas and in the U.S.

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:01]Gas price is another big topic stemming from these talks with China. This coming as the price at the pump continues to climb. So far this week, the national average has shot up more than 7 cents since the beginning of the week. The price for a gallon now sitting around 448. That's up more than 37 cents from last month and about a dollar and 40 cents higher than this time last year.

[00:00:23]Taking a look at GasBuddy, you can see how volatile those prices have been over the course of the past month. The end of April is when we really saw things shoot up. And it looks like the same is going on here in Central Arkansas. So Ryan, how are those prices looking this morning?

[00:00:38]>> Uh, the pain is still there at the pump.

[00:00:40]This is the same graph right here that we have been watching for about a month now and we have seen almost in real time these prices skyrocket. Let's take a closer look. You can see the Arkansas pricing trends have stayed pretty consistent with the national gas prices.

[00:00:56]As of this morning, the state average is sitting right around four bucks a gallon with Little Rock at 405. This is a pretty big jump from what we were seeing this time last week with prices around 395. But those numbers are still a lot higher than were this time last month.

[00:01:12]Now, we're on your side this morning helping you find some of the best places to fill up this morning. According to GasBuddy, Greenbrier has some pretty low prices with Walmart, Valero, and Mighty Market all sitting around 379 this morning. Also making the top of the list is Minton's A-Line just off of I- 30. So if you're heading into town and you pass one of those stations, you might want to stop to fill up your tank.

[00:01:38]And we know most drivers are feeling the pain of those higher gas prices. Owners of large SUVs and pickup trucks could be feeling it the most. Many full-size vehicles get fewer miles per gallon.

[00:01:51]That's right. Channel 7's Kayla Christian is on your side this morning with the latest on these gas prices.

[00:01:56]Kayla.

[00:01:58]Yeah, Ryan and Stacy, so drivers of bigger vehicles are watching their gas bills climb rapidly with some saying their gas bills are now hundreds more than in prior years. Now, for many SUV and truck owners, those price hike add up fast and a driver with a full-size pickup that gets about 15 miles per gallon can now spend between 1 and $200 more each month on gas compared to 2024.

[00:02:26]And depending on how much they drive, it could be more. And filling up a 26-gallon tank at $4 or more per gallon now costs more than $100. So, because of this, more consumers are reconsidering what they drive. Automakers are reporting hybrid sales are surging in recent months, which seems to be correlated directly with the gas prices climbing. Social media is also filled with drivers posting photos of $100 fill-ups and sharing frustration over the rising cost of owning large vehicles. And since the average American household now spends more than $3,000 a year on gas alone, that's a figure that could continue to rise if these prices continue to trend upward, which will impact other parts of daily life.

[00:03:15]And though large vehicles have their perks, experts do say if it does continue to grow, more drivers probably will begin to trade in their bigger vehicles for more fuel-efficient options in the months ahead, which could be good for some dealerships but detrimental for others. On your side, I'm Kayla Christian.