The average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Arkansas has fallen by 9 cents over the past week, settling at $3.68 per gallon, according to the AAA Arkansas Weekend Gas Watch. However, prices remain significantly higher than this time last year, up 88 cents from the 2025 figure.
AAA reports the national average for regular unleaded gasoline currently stands at $4.06 a gallon. In Arkansas, drivers in Texarkana are paying the highest average prices among major metro areas at $3.74 a gallon, while those in Hot Springs enjoy the lowest prices at $3.53 a gallon. Jonesboro residents are seeing an average price of $3.57 per gallon at the pump.
Carly McKinnis, a spokesperson for AAA Public Affairs, pointed to several factors contributing to the recent price drop, including lower demand as summer travel slows with the return of students to schools and universities. "Domestic crude has dipped below $80 a barrel over the past week, and that’s good news," McKinnis explained. "But it’s trickling down to the pump slowly. We’re seeing prices ease by just a few cents this week — it’s relief, but not as much as drivers might hope for yet."
AAA also highlighted reduced crude oil prices amid optimism about renewed operations in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for global oil shipping that has experienced recent disruptions.
This trend of modest price declines is in line with broader seasonal patterns. Historically, gas prices often ease as the busy summer driving season winds down during August, though fluctuations in crude oil prices can still influence the pace and extent of reductions at the pump.