A costly summer sendoff approaches
Persistent pump pain and pricey burgers mean this summer's last hurrah comes with a cost crunch. The big picture: Gasoline prices are almost certain to remain north of $4 per gallon over Labor Day weekend — a heavy travel stretch and the time when midterm election season intensifies. Driving the news: Labor Day gas prices are slated to be the highest on record, surpassing the previous one set in 2012, per market tracking firm GasBuddy and AAA . That's coming off a record-setting August, where the monthly national average of $4.07 trounced 2022's record, per AAA data. While regular gas prices are more likely to impact Labor Day travel than diesel, the fuel that powers America's trucking fleet hit a new high Friday, driving up costs across a wide swath of industries. Data: AAA; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios Visuals Friction point: Meanwhile, the war in Iran is showing signs of intensifying and has scrambled markets. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
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- Sep 5, 2026