If you’ve been feeling the pinch every time you pull up to the pump, you may need to brace for more pain. That’s because an oil industry analyst named Patrick De Haan says that the U.S. is about to see a major spike in fuel costs.
He shared his prediction using his @gasbuddyguy account on Threads, where he frequently analyzes fuel pricing data. “Buckle up,” he wrote in a Sept. 16, 2026 post. “Gas and diesel look set for a spike over the next 48 hours, hardest in parts of the nation’s interior.”
De Haan said he would crunch the numbers and share real-time information with his followers, highlighting national and regional changes as they came in, using the information pulled from prices.gasbuddy.com. His updates began almost immediately, and they have continued throughout the day.
According to him, this is likely just the start of a several-day influx that could bring us to new highs by the weekend, which would include both gas and diesel prices. That will be especially bad news for some areas, where diesel prices are already closing in on $7 a gallon.
De Haan Spent the Morning Updating His Followers
View on Threads
The first four hours of posts from De Haan featured updates about the state of fuel prices, starting with Wisconsin, where gas prices were expected to hit $4.39 a gallon. Next was Nebraska, which was expected to rise to $4.19.
“We may set a new 2026 high for average gas prices by the weekend,” De Haan posted at 11 a.m. EDT. “Currently $4.371/gal and climbing, previous high $4.566/gal.”
American Automobile Association’s (AAA) website tracks the national average for gas and diesel. According to the company’s most recent data, regular gas averaged just $3.1862 a gallon this time last year. Today, the current average is listed at $4.3672.
He Also Shared Updates About Diesel Prices
While most of us rely on gas to get us where we need to go, the cost of diesel is also very important to the U.S. economy. Diesel not only fuels the delivery trucks that drive goods and materials across the country, but it’s also what powers many of our trains, buses, and even farm equipment. When those prices rise, so does the cost of everything else.
De Haan says that diesel could hit $6.50 a gallon within the next 48 hours. According to AAA, last year’s diesel prices averaged just $3.7008. AAA notes that today’s diesel price of $6.3103 is the highest recorded average on record.
Global Conflicts Blamed for Rising Gas Prices
The reason prices appear to be soaring is the ongoing war with Iran, according to CNN. Continued strikes on Iranian oil tankers and threats to the Bab al-Mandab Strait in Yemen are causing prices to continue to go up.
Unfortunately, CNN warns that the strain the gas spikes are putting on people’s wallets will soon move beyond the pump as cooler temperatures approach, since this is expected to cause a 30 percent increase in the cost of home heating oil as well.
This is having a dire effect on other countries, where the increased fuel costs are making it impossible for people to get to work and for businesses to continue to operate, prompting mass protests from people demanding action.