The Sconi

An analysis of gas price data revealed that Wisconsin consumers are paying 45% more for gasoline than they were when President Biden was sworn into office.

According to AAA, the average price of regular gasoline in Wisconsin on February 4, 2021, two weeks after Biden took Office, was $2.277 per gallon. On May 13, 2024, AAA listed the average price of regular gas in the state at $3.304 per gallon, representing an increase of 45.1%. 

Nationally, the average price of regular gasoline on February 2, 2021, two weeks after Biden took office, was $2.396 per gallon. Comparatively, the average national cost on May 13, 2024 was $3.619 per gallon, representing a 51% increase.

According to data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve, between January 16 of 2017 and January 18 of 2021, which marks the tenure of President Donald Trump, the average national gas price increased by only 0.8%.

As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes in their most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, “the all items index rose 3.5 percent for the 12 months ending March, a larger increase than the 3.2-percent increase for the 12 months ending February.” From February to March 2024, the overall CPI increased by 0.4%. The gasoline index (along with the shelter index) “contributed over half of the monthly increase in the index for all items.”

The gasoline index increased by 1.3% over the 12-month period ending March 2024. Between February and March 2024, the seasonally adjusted gasoline index rose by 1.7%; prior to seasonal adjustment, the gasoline index increased by 6.4% during this time period.

The BLS reports that in the Midwest region — which includes Wisconsin — the overall CPI increased by 2.8% over the year ending March 2024. In the month ending March 2024, the overall CPI hike outpaced the national trend, increasing by 0.7%. From March 2023 to March 2024, the gasoline index rose by 2.2%, and from February to March 2024, the gasoline index increased by 8.9%, again outpacing the national average.

A December 2023 League of American Workers (LAW) poll of likely Wisconsin voters found that a majority — 51 percent — of respondents blamed President Joe Biden's policies for higher gas prices.