Gas prices are nearing this ‘psychological wall.’ One group of drivers might smash right through.

Site SearchClearSEARCHAdvanced Search ➔Search ResultsSymbolsNo results foundAll NewsArticlesVideoPodcasts0 ResultsNo Results FoundAuthorsNo results foundSectionsNo results foundColumnsNo results found $4 gas is here — but one group of drivers could cruise through this ‘psychological wall’‘The economy feels a bit miserable right now,’ one financial-wellness expert says. ‘I’m shifting from autopilot to a more intentional strategy.’Last Updated: March 31, 2026 at 10:12 a.m. ETFirst Published: March 28, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ETShareResizeListen(6 min)Ready for pump-price sticker shock? Photo: AFP via Getty ImagesAmericans were already anxious about the economy and rising prices amid the ongoing Iran war. Now, they are coming up against a price point that may further sour their moods.As of Tuesday morning, the national average price for a gallon of gasoline was $4.01 according to AAA. It was $4.00, according to GasBuddy. About the Author Andrew KeshnerAndrew Keshner is a personal finance reporter for MarketWatch who covers taxes, debt, insurance, jobs, consumers and more. He previously worked for the New York Daily News, the New York Law Journal and The Southampton Press. You can follow him on X and LinkedIn. Venessa WongVenessa Wong is a personal finance reporter for MarketWatch based in New York City. She previously covered business, inequality and culture during her tenure at BuzzFeed News, and reported on the food industry for Bloomberg. Venessa is a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School and Middlebury College. Follow her on Twitter @venessawong.Show Conversation (0)Back To TopA Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie NoticeArchive MarketwatchCustomer CenterContact UsNewslettersNewsroom RosterVirtual Stock ExchangeMarketWatch GuidesCopyright PolicyManage NotificationsCancel My SubscriptionCompanyDow JonesCode of ConductCorrectionsReprints & LicensingDigital Self ServiceYour Ad ChoicesCorporate SubscriptionsAccessibilityDow Jones NetworkThe Wall Street JournalBarron'sInvestor's Business DailyFinancial News Londonrealtor.comMansion GlobalDow Jones Smart MoneyIntraday Data provided by FACTSET and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by FACTSET. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real-time last sale data for U.S. stock quotes reflect trades reported through Nasdaq only. Intraday data delayed at least 15 minutes or per exchange requirements.