INDIANA— Drivers across Indiana are feeling the sting at the pump this week as gasoline prices jumped 6.2 cents per gallon, following a week of rising oil costs and a historic winter storm.
According to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,271 stations across the state, the average price in Indiana now stands at $2.86 per gallon. This marks an 18.1-cent increase from just one month ago, though prices remain 14.2 cents lower than this time last year.
While Indiana saw a significant weekly increase, the national average also ticked upward by 7.5 cents, settling at $2.84 per gallon.
Regional price variations remain stark. In Indiana yesterday, the gap between the cheapest and most expensive stations was a full 90 cents, with a low of $2.29 and a high of $3.19 per gallon.
Neighboring Market Comparison:
- Indianapolis: $2.85/g (Up 6.9 cents)
- Cincinnati: $2.80/g (Up 15.4 cents)
- Champaign, IL: $2.78/g (Down 6.3 cents)
The “Perfect Storm”: Geopolitics and Weather
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, attributes the surge to a combination of international policy and local climate extremes. Oil prices have climbed back above the $60-per-barrel mark, driven largely by new U.S. sanctions targeting Iran’s “shadow fleet” of petroleum tankers.
“New sanctions on Iran’s oil are making it more difficult for those barrels to reach the market, tightening supply,” De Haan explained. “Simultaneously, the major winter storm sending temperatures plunging is likely to impact refineries, causing disruptions and reduced output.”
The cold is also impacting diesel prices, which rose 7.8 cents this week to a national average of $3.543 per gallon, as the deep freeze boosts demand for heating oil.
Historical Context: January 26 Averages
| Year | Indiana Average | U.S. National Average |
| 2026 | $2.86 | $2.84 |
| 2025 | $3.00 | $3.08 |
| 2024 | $2.96 | $3.10 |
| 2023 | $3.34 | $3.48 |
| 2021 | $2.32 | $2.41 |
With Arctic temperatures expected to linger into mid-week, analysts warn that refinery disruptions could lead to further price volatility.
“The combination of tightened global supply and local weather-related refinery stress could keep both gasoline and diesel prices moving higher in the week ahead,” De Haan noted.
