North Carolina

Gas prices hit highest in years across US. Here’s what it costs now in NC

Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways

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  • As of April 28, North Carolina regular gas was $3.944 and diesel was $5.535.
  • Charlotte-area regular gas was $3.912, up nearly $1 from a year ago.
  • April 28 was the highest U.S. gas price day since 2022.

Tuesday, April 28 was the highest day for gas prices in the United States since 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported.

As of April 28, the average price of a regular gallon of gas in North Carolina had risen to $3.944, and the price of a gallon of diesel had risen to $5.535, according to AAA. Nationally, the average price of gas is $4.18.

In Charlotte, the numbers are similarly elevated. The average price of a regular gallon of gas in the North Carolinian part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill area is $3.912, and diesel is $5.535, according to AAA. That’s nearly a dollar more expensive than this time last year.

In Raleigh, a regular gallon of gas’ average price is $4.006 — more than a dollar more expensive than last year. Diesel is $5.573, according to AAA.

Why is the cost of gas so high?

In short, gas prices are high because of pressure on international supply chains caused by the war in Iran.

A quarter of all oil transported by sea passes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the International Energy Agency. A fifth of liquified natural gas comes from Qatar and the UAE.

Has the cost of gas been this high before?

The highest recorded gas price in North Carolina was $4.671 in June 2022, according to AAA. At the time, gas prices were elevated by the war in Ukraine.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Gas prices hit highest in years across US. Here’s what it costs now in NC."

Eva Flowe
The Charlotte Observer
Eva Flowe is a North Carolina native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She joined the Charlotte Observer as part of the NC service journalism team in April 2026.
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