Core Insights - The average price of unleaded gasoline in the U.S. has been below $3 a gallon for most of December 2025, marking the lowest level since 2021 and the cheapest December since the pandemic year of 2020 [1] - Fuel prices have decreased approximately 7% from the previous month and are down about 43% from mid-2022 highs near $5 a gallon, which were driven by inflation following the pandemic [2] - AAA forecasts that over 122 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday season, with nearly 90% of travelers expected to use cars [2] Price Trends - The decline in gasoline prices may alleviate some of the financial pressure from ongoing inflation during the holiday season [3] - A survey indicated that over 40% of respondents plan to spend less during the holidays, a six-point increase from the previous year, with 46% attributing their budget cuts to high costs of goods [3] Regional Variances - There are significant regional differences in gas prices, with Hawaii and California averaging above $4 per gallon, while Oklahoma's average is just below $2.30 [4]