Apr 2, 2026 - News
Charted: Gas prices up in Northwest Arkansas
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Average national gas prices in the U.S. hit $4 on Tuesday, representing a 35% jump at the pump since the Iran war began in February.
Zoom in: The average per-gallon cost in Northwest Arkansas was $3.25 as of yesterday, up from $3.04 on March 1 and up from $2.45 on Feb. 1.
How to understand crude oil prices
How it works: Prices at the pump begin with crude oil barrels, which come from around the world.
- A barrel is roughly 42 gallons of crude oil. Barrels generate roughly 19 to 20 gallons of gasoline, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
- Each barrel is priced based on how the market views it, which can sway because of supply, demand, global affairs and even social-media posts from world leaders.
Reality check: The crude oil barrel prices — which you can track minute-by-minute — are only one factor that impacts prices at your local gas station.
Keep reading: How to understand crude oil costs and what they mean for gas prices