How much should gas prices matter when voters judge an administration?

The national average price of gasoline fell below $4 a gallon for the first time since mid-July, reaching $3.98 on November 10, 2026, according to AAA. That was down from $4.36 a month earlier but above the $2.81 average in January, before military strikes against Iran began. President Donald Trump had predicted before the midterm elections that gas prices would fall afterward; rising energy prices had driven inflation in recent months, and the cost of living was a top election issue.