INDIANA — Hoosier drivers are getting some much-needed relief at the pump this week. Average gasoline prices in Indiana have plummeted 24.4 cents per gallon over the last seven days, bringing the state average down to $4.12 per gallon today, according to the latest fuel survey from GasBuddy.
The data, compiled from a real-time survey of 3,271 stations across Indiana, shows that local relief is outpacing the rest of the country. By comparison, the national average for a gallon of gasoline only ticked down 1 cent over the last week, settling at $4.47 per gallon.
Despite the recent drop, drivers are still feeling a long-term pinch. Current prices in Indiana remain 34.6 cents higher than a month ago and are a staggering 94.7 cents per gallon higher than this time last year. Meanwhile, diesel drivers saw virtually no change, with the national average for diesel dipping just half a penny to $5.618 per gallon.
Extreme Price Gaps Across Indiana
GasBuddy’s daily price reports revealed a massive $1.64 spread between the highest and lowest fuel prices in the state. Yesterday, the cheapest station in Indiana was spotted at $3.45 per gallon, while the most expensive station was charging $5.09 per gallon.
Regionally, prices vary significantly across major metro areas:
- Indianapolis: $4.14 per gallon (down 22.8 cents from last week)
- Cincinnati, OH: $4.44 per gallon (down 12.4 cents from last week)
- Champaign, IL: $4.85 per gallon (down 5.3 cents from last week)
While today’s $4.12 average is an improvement from last week, a look at historical data from May 18 shows that Indiana fuel prices are tracking well above typical mid-May averages, except for the record-high inflation wave of 2022:
| Date | Indiana Average | U.S. Average |
| May 18, 2026 | $4.12 / g | $4.47 / g |
| May 18, 2025 | $3.17 / g | $3.14 / g |
| May 18, 2024 | $3.62 / g | $3.58 / g |
| May 18, 2023 | $3.53 / g | $3.52 / g |
| May 18, 2022 | $4.61 / g | $4.58 / g |
| May 18, 2021 | $2.95 / g | $3.04 / g |
Geopolitics and Memorial Day Uncertainty
According to fuel experts, the brief window of falling prices was triggered early last week when crude oil softened on hopes of diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran. However, that optimism quickly faded following a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping, which failed to yield a diplomatic breakthrough regarding Tehran.
With renewed international warnings directed toward Iran, global oil markets have quickly tightened again.
“With global oil inventories continuing to trend toward historically tight levels, markets remain extremely sensitive to geopolitical developments and potential supply disruptions,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
De Haan warned that the current relief might be short-lived as the summer travel season kicks off. “As a result, gasoline and diesel prices are likely to remain volatile, and with Memorial Day approaching, any sustained increase in oil prices could begin pushing retail fuel prices higher again in the weeks ahead.”
