Why do gas prices change every week?
Retail gas prices change on a roughly weekly cadence because three of the four drivers - crude oil, RBOB wholesale, and refining margin - move daily, while the fourth (taxes) is steady. The pump tracks wholesale with a 7-21 day lag and exhibits classic "rockets and feathers" asymmetry: up fast, down slow. [EIA · 13 Jul 2026]
The EIA Monday survey sets the tone
EIA samples about 800 stations Monday morning, releases the data Monday afternoon. AAA and the media cycle pick it up within hours.
Lag from crude to pump
A crude oil price move at 10 a.m. shows up at the wholesale rack within 24-48 hours. Retail follows within 7-21 days depending on station turnover.
The seasonal RBOB-to-CARB transition
Each spring, refiners switch from winter (high-RVP) to summer (low-RVP) gasoline. The switchover starts March 1 in most states and finishes by 1 June. CARB specification states (California) carry the most expensive summer blend.
"Rockets and feathers"
Empirical research consistently finds retail prices rise faster than they fall. The asymmetry is small but persistent.