U.S. gasoline prices continued rising more than six months after the start of the Iran war, creating a political challenge for the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections. The nationwide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel reached $4.44 on Thursday, Sept. 17, up from $4.37 a day earlier and $4.28 a week earlier, according to AAA (automobile association) and the EIA (U.S. energy data agency). The national average had reached a recorded peak of $5.02 on Monday, Sept. 14, while Thursday's level was more than $1.20 above the same period a year earlier. At a Sept. 16 rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, the president said the higher fuel costs were an inexpensive price to pay for what had been done and said prices would eventually come down. California had the highest state average at $6.09 per gallon, followed by Washington at $5.58 and Nevada at $5.19. California, Alaska and Hawaii averaged $6.01, $5.07 and $5.48, respectively. The West Coast remained the most expensive region, followed by the Rocky Mountain region and the Central Atlantic, with every region more than $1 above its level on the same date last year.