Gas Stations NAICS 457120

Feb 26, 2026 - Trump to Weaken Vehicle Mileage Rules

• The Trump administration’s rollback of federal greenhouse‑gas regulations, culminating in the elimination of the EPA’s endangerment finding, effectively removes meaningful national fuel‑efficiency standards for cars and trucks, The New York Times reports. For gasoline retailers, this shift could slow the long‑term decline in fuel demand by reducing pressure on automakers to improve vehicle efficiency or accelerate the transition to cleaner technologies. With civil penalties eliminated and California’s stricter rules blocked, automakers face fewer incentives to produce high‑mpg or alternative‑fuel vehicles, potentially extending the market dominance of gasoline‑powered vehicles. But, the absence of federal standards also increases policy uncertainty. States like California plan legal challenges, and future administrations could reinstate stricter rules, complicating long‑term demand forecasting for gas stations. While the near‑term environment may support steadier gasoline consumption, retailers must navigate a fragmented regulatory landscape and shifting consumer preferences as climate policy becomes more volatile.
• On December 1, the average retail price of regular gasoline fell to $2.98 per gallon, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA). Adjusted for inflation, the Dec. 1 price was the lowest average US gasoline price since February 2021. EIA credited the drop in the pump price to the falling price of crude oil, which typically accounts for about half of the retail gasoline price. On Dec. 1, regular gasoline prices ranged between a low price of $2.55 per gallon on the Gulf Coast and a high price of $4.03 per gallon on the West Coast. Industry watchers expect gas prices to continue to fall over the next few weeks. While the Trump administration has been quick to take credit for falling gas prices, experts point to a market-based explanation for the decline.

• President Trump has moved to pull the plug on the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program (NEVI), his predecessor’s initiative to build a nationwide network of EV charging stations, Politico reports. In February, Trump instructed states not to spend federal funds previously allocated to them under the program. In a letter to state transportation directors, the Federal Highway Administration said that it was scrapping guidance issued in 2023 implementing the NEVI program. However, the letter says states will be able to receive reimbursements for “existing obligations” to design and build stations "in order to not disrupt current financial commitments.” Whether Trump can choose not to spend funds allocated by congress is likely to face legal challenges. Still, the administration’s move to block future EV charging station construction and, more broadly, Trump’s pro-fossil-fuel policies, brighten the outlook for suppliers of traditional motor fuels.
• Producer prices for gasoline stations hit a new high in November, up 6.8% compared to a year ago, after rising 12.8% in the previous November-versus-November annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Rising labor, utility, and insurance and compliance costs are among the factors driving producer price inflation for gas stations. Meanwhile, the average retail price for regular motor gasoline was $3.05 per gallon in November; down 0.3% from October and 0.1% from a year ago, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Employment by gas stations continued to decline, dipping 0.8% YoY in November, while the average industry wage rose 3.4% over the same period to a new high of $18.78 per hour, BLS data show.