A claim by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that Americans will see the lowest gas prices in five years this Labor Day has sparked debate, with fact-checkers highlighting selective framing and misleading comparisons.

At a Glance

• Leavitt said U.S. gas prices are at a “five-year low” as Labor Day approaches.
• The White House cited a GasBuddy estimate of about $3.15 per gallon, the lowest holiday price since 2020.
• Critics argue this comparison omits earlier low-price periods outside holiday windows.
• Some reports show regional variability, with prices much higher than national trends.
• Historical data indicates other non-holiday days in the past five years featured even lower national averages.

Contextualizing Labor Day Low

Karoline Leavitt’s statement, featured in White House communications, asserts that gas prices this Labor Day will be the lowest in five years, crediting energy-focused policies.

Watch now: Leavitt credits Trump’s “five-year-low gas prices” ahead of Labor Day weekend · YouTube

GasBuddy forecasts align by projecting a national average near $3.15 per gallon, marking the cheapest Labor Day weekend since 2020.

Debating Significance

However, the claim’s framing—”five-year low”—applies only to holiday-season metrics. Broader market data reveal that non-holiday price points during the past five years may have been lower. Moreover, regional disparities mean many areas face prices well above the reported average, raising questions about the statement’s general applicability.

Holiday vs. Historical Lows

By focusing on the Labor Day period, the White House avoided comparisons with pre-2020 global lows tied to pandemic lockdowns or seasonal dips. Fact-checkers observe that cherry-picking data tied to a specific period can distort broader price trends, making selective framing a more political highlighting than objective reporting.

Sources

Boing Boing
White House
Fox Business