These States Have Seen Highest Gas Price Spikes Since Russia Invasion Began

Every state in the U.S. has seen gas prices jump over the last week following Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine, with Michigan recording a statewide average nearly 39 cents per gallon above what it was one week ago and a handful of other states seeing increases between 20 and 36 cents per gallon.

The price of oil has increased in response to concerns about how the military conflict could disrupt the energy market, driving up prices at the pump. Industry experts have said in recent days that it is difficult to predict exactly how much gas prices could go up, but they noted it is possible the U.S. could see a $4 national average cost for the price of a single gallon of unleaded regular gas by April.

The country's current average cost of gas per gallon reached $3.728 by Thursday, an increase of more than 18 cents compared with the price recorded one week ago, according to data compiled by the American Automobile Association (AAA). Thursday's national average marked an 11-cent increase since Monday, AAA noted in a Thursday press release.

"Pump prices will likely continue to rise as crude prices continue to climb," AAA said.

Not every state has recorded gas price increases as high as the nation as a whole, but a Newsweek analysis of AAA data found some states have recorded increases that are even greater. Michigan has seen the highest statewide average increase over the last week, with a gallon of regular unleaded gas costing about 38.2 cents more on Thursday than it did one week ago. Indiana recorded an increase of nearly 36 cents in the last week, and Illinois and Ohio each recorded increases between 30 and 31 cents.

The states with the largest gas price hikes stand in contrast to states like Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming, which have reported the lowest statewide average gas price increases over the last week. Even so, each state recorded increases between 8 and 10 cents.

Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee all recorded statewide average gas price increases between 20 and 30 cents over the last week, with all other U.S. states seeing increases somewhere between 10 and 20 cents.

California, which often has the highest gas prices in the U.S., has set multiple statewide average price records over the last several weeks, with another set on Thursday at $4.94 per gallon. Thursday's price reflects an increase of about 17 cents over the last week, according to AAA data.

Average gas prices exceeded $5 per gallon in some California counties, and San Francisco on Thursday set a record as the first major U.S. city to hit that threshold, according to GasBuddy.

While addressing gas price increases earlier this week, AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross told Newsweek he has "never seen a rise like this before."

"You can see how the shockwaves to the global oil market have been almost immediately reflected for consumers here at the pump," Gross said.