© 2026 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KCUR's offices are moving. You may experience broadcast hiccups while we get settled.

What's Behind These High Gas Prices?

With Americans consuming 300 million gallons of gasoline every day, this really is a billion-dollar question. The answer? It's complicated. The U.S. is the world's biggest gasoline consumer, and it relies in part on imports of foreign crude oil to meet that need. Global crude supply and demand, which is influenced by politics, speculation and natural disasters, has a powerful effect on the cost of gas in America. Federal and state taxes, regulations and the cost of distribution top off prices at the pump.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Congress just eliminated federal funding for KCUR, but public radio is for the people.

Your support has always made KCUR's work possible — from reporting that keeps officials accountable, to storytelling to connects our community. Help ensure the future of local journalism.