How is gas price calculated? The crude share today
At a national average of $3.87 per gallon, crude oil accounts for roughly 52 percent of the pump price today. Refining is about 14 percent, distribution-and-marketing about 16 percent, federal excise 6 percent (18.4 cents), and state taxes the remaining 12 percent on average. EIA Petroleum Marketing Monthly publishes the canonical decomposition. [EIA · 13 Jul 2026]
Which crude benchmark drives US pumps
US Gulf Coast refiners price off Light Louisiana Sweet and WTI. West Coast refiners blend Brent-linked imports with Alaska North Slope. RBOB futures (NYMEX) are the wholesale gasoline contract that translates crude moves to the pump.
Lag from crude to pump
A crude move at 10 a.m. typically shows up at the rack within 24-48 hours and at retail within 7-21 days, depending on station velocity. The "rockets and feathers" research literature finds prices rise faster than they fall.
Why the share moves month-to-month
When crude is cheap, the fixed taxes loom larger as a share of the pump price. When crude rallies, taxes shrink as a share even though they are dollar-stable.
Related
refining margin · federal excise · state excise · why prices change