00:04We are taking a closer look at what you have to say.
00:08This is Straight From You, where your comments and questions get fact-checked and answered.
00:13This week, we're clearing up a claim we see a lot whenever gas prices rise.
00:18We received a viewer comment saying,
00:20The fact that gas is going up is proof that the United States still does not produce enough oil domestically
00:27to keep national averages down.
00:28All right, that sounds logical, but it leaves out some key context.
00:32So let's break it down.
00:34Higher gas prices do not prove the U.S. is producing too little oil.
00:39The U.S. Energy Information Administration says U.S. crude oil production hit a record 13.6 million barrels per
00:48day in 2025.
00:49So the United States is already producing a lot of oil.
00:53And the majority of the oil consumed in the U.S. is produced in the U.S.
00:58with most of the rest coming from Canada and Mexico.
01:01EIA says more of that oil stayed in the U.S. going into stock builds,
01:06especially the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and domestic refineries.
01:11That matters because the price you pay at the pump is not only about how much oil the U.S.
01:16produces.
01:17Oil is priced in a global market.
01:19The Energy Information Administration says crude prices move on global supply and demand,
01:25and they can jump fast when war, shipping disruptions, refinery outages, bad weather, or OPEC supply decisions hit the market.
01:33That's especially true in the short run because supply and demand do not adjust quickly.
01:38And gasoline prices are not just about drilling.
01:41EIA says crude oil is the largest factor in the price of gasoline.
01:46But refining, distribution, inventories, and taxes also play a role.
01:51AAA says the national average for a price of a gallon of gasoline, regular that is,
01:57hit $3.60 a gallon on Thursday, up more than 20 percent since the war in Iran started.
02:03Global crude prices rose sharply as the conflict widened.
02:06There is also a timing issue.
02:08Reuters reported that even when oil prices spike, new U.S. drilling does not bring relief overnight.
02:15It can take more than half a year to bring a new well online.
02:19And short-term price swings alone are not enough to guarantee more drilling.
02:23So the short answer is this.
02:25Gas prices going up does not prove the United States is not producing enough oil.
02:30What it shows is that American drivers are still tied to a global oil market,
02:36even when U.S. production is high.
02:38And a lot of that oil is staying home.
02:41Keep dropping comments, asking questions, and we'll tackle the biggest ones next week.
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