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Trump Orders DOJ Review as U.S. Gas Prices Stay Stuck Despite Crude Drop

Retail relief will be gradual because refining, inventory and delivery delays keep pump prices tied to earlier supply disruptions.

Overview

  • President Trump on Sunday said he told the Department of Justice to "immediately start looking into" oil-company pricing, named Chevron, Exxon, Shell and BP, and said pumps should be about $2.25 per gallon.
  • The DOJ gave a noncommittal public reply that called fuel prices a national security and consumer issue but did not confirm a formal investigation.
  • Chevron CFO Eimear Bonner told CNBC that gasoline should fall as Middle East oil flows normalize, but she warned the pass-through from crude to pump will take time and noted Chevron plans 7–10% production growth this year.
  • Industry groups and analysts explain the gap by pointing to predictable lags: crude must be refined, shipped and sold from station inventories and regional replacement costs and refinery throughput can delay retail price declines.
  • The national average for regular gasoline sits near $3.92 a gallon, keeping consumer bills higher, complicating inflation dynamics and leaving relief fragile while Gulf exports and shipping conditions continue to recover.