US drivers face long-term pain at pump, analysts say; Trump bets they are wrong - Reuters

Reuters
March 18, 2026
3 min read

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Energy analysts predict sustained high gas prices despite Trump's confidence his policies will lower pump costs.

How This Affects You

Drivers could face sustained elevated gasoline prices depending on whether global oil dynamics or domestic policy changes prove decisive in setting fuel costs.

AI Summary

Energy analysts are warning that U.S. drivers face sustained gasoline price increases, a forecast that contradicts President Trump's confidence that prices will decline under his administration's policies. The disagreement centers on Trump's approach to energy production and regulation, which he argues will increase domestic supply and lower fuel costs. Analysts point to global oil market dynamics, geopolitical tensions, and refining capacity constraints as factors that could keep pump prices elevated regardless of domestic policy changes. The outcome will test both the administration's economic messaging and the limits of presidential influence over commodity markets largely determined by global forces. Gasoline prices have become a politically significant barometer of economic health, making this dispute more than a technical forecast disagreement.

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