Why record US oil output isn’t keeping gas prices low

We are taking a closer look at what you have to say

This is Straight From You, where your comments and questions get fact-checked and answered

This week, we're clearing up a claim we see a lot whenever gas prices rise

We received a viewer comment saying, the fact that gas is going up is proof that the United States still does not produce enough oil domestically

to keep national averages down. All right, that sounds logical, but it leaves out some key context

So let's break it down. Higher gas prices do not prove the U.S. is producing too little oil

The U.S. Energy Information Administration says U.S. crude oil production hit a record 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025

So the United States is already producing a lot of oil. And the majority of the oil consumed in the U.S. is produced in the U.S.

with most of the rest coming from Canada and Mexico. EIA says more of that oil stayed in the U.S. going into stock builds

especially the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and domestic refineries. That matters because the price you pay at the pump is not only about how much oil the U.S. produces

Oil is priced in a global market. The Energy Information Administration says crude prices move on global supply and demand and they can jump fast when war shipping disruptions refinery outages bad weather

or OPEC supply decisions hit the market. That's especially true in the short run, because supply and demand do not adjust quickly

And gasoline prices are not just about drilling. EIA says crude oil is the largest factor in the price of gasoline

But refining, distribution, inventories and taxes also play a role. AAA says the national average for a price of a gallon of gasoline, regular that is, hit 360 a gallon on Thursday, up more than 20 percent since the war in Iran started

Global crude prices rose sharply as the conflict widened. There is also a timing issue

Reuters reported that even when oil prices spike, new U.S. drilling does not bring relief overnight

It can take more than half a year to bring a new well online

And short-term price swings alone are not enough to guarantee more drilling

So the short answer is this. Gas prices going up does not prove the United States is not producing enough oil

What it shows is that American drivers are still tied to a global oil market

even when U.S. production is high. And a lot of that oil is staying home

Keep dropping comments, asking questions, and we'll tackle the biggest ones next week