Gas eases to $4.31 nationally as diesel hovers near a record

Massachusetts drivers are paying about $4.28 a gallon, more than a dollar above a year ago, AAA data show.

By Boston Daily Staff

Published Oct 17, 2026, 10:11 PM EDT

The national average price of regular gasoline slipped to $4.31 a gallon on Saturday, down about 6 cents from a week earlier but still more than $1.25 above where it stood a year ago, according to AAA.

Diesel remains the bigger pain point. The national average was $6.33 a gallon, just below the record of $6.53 set on Sept. 22, 2026. A year ago, diesel averaged $3.64.

In Massachusetts

| | Today | Week ago | Year ago | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Regular, Massachusetts | $4.28 | $4.32 | $3.02 | | Regular, Boston metro | $4.30 | | | | Diesel, Massachusetts | $6.34 | $6.33 | $3.82 |

Regular gas nationally remains below its all-time high of $5.02, set on June 14, 2022.

Fuel costs have become a recurring theme on the campaign trail ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, including in Alaska's Senate race.

Prices are AAA daily averages as of Oct. 17, 2026.