January 20, 2026
2026: Cheapest year for gas since the pandemic
‘The contrast with 2022 isn’t just about a foreign war or post-COVID rebalancing; it reflects policy choices that either constrained or unleashed American energy,’ said FISM host Mark Minnella
PHILADELPHIA — GasBuddy recently projected that the national average rate for gas is expected to fall to $2.97, forecasting 2026 to be the cheapest year for fuel since the pandemic. If this projection is correct, this would mark the fourth consecutive year for decreasing gas prices, and the first year with an average below $3 per gallon since 2020.
For Americans, the lower gas prices not only signal relief for fuel expenses but also mark economic stability, says Financial Issues (FISM) host Mark Minnella.
“This article rightly highlights relief at the pump, but it leaves out the most important truth: Energy prices don’t fall by accident; they fall when markets are allowed to work, and domestic production is respected,” said Minnella. “The contrast with 2022 isn’t just about a foreign war or post-COVID rebalancing; it reflects policy choices that either constrained or unleashed American energy. Lower gas prices matter because they directly reduce the cost of living for working families, small businesses and the broader economy. What’s often missing in coverage like this is how fragile that relief can be when energy realism gives way to ideology. Real economic stability comes not from optimistic headlines, government talking points or liberal media spin, but from disciplined, reality-based policy, such as we are currently seeing from the Trump administration.”
Financial Issues’ (FISM) unique programming helps Christians find freedom and purpose in financial stewardship, empowering them to make biblically faithful choices in a world filled with competing voices. By tuning in, viewers and listeners will discover how to navigate their financial journey with clarity, integrity and a Kingdom-minded perspective.
Mark Minnella is the host of Financial Issues, which is broadcast live Monday through Friday at 9 – 10 a.m. ET/8 – 9 a.m. CT, on more than 500 television and radio outlets nationwide, streaming on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and other major platforms, as well as online at FinancialIssues.org.
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To schedule interviews with Mark Minnella, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
