The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (release dated September 22, 2026) shows regular gasoline and diesel climbed again for the week ending September 21. U.S. regular averaged $4.478—up 15.9 cents from $4.319 the week before. Texas regular printed $3.929 (up 12.3 cents from $3.806). Houston regular was $3.863 (up 12.5 cents from $3.738). U.S. on-highway diesel averaged $6.529, up 24.4 cents week over week.
That is a second consecutive weekly climb, not a one-week blip. Fuel does not invent a trade value—but it does squeeze the monthly budget shoppers bring to the desk. When the next payment has to “work,” a soft trade allowance is how a stretch starts.
PriceForMyTrade helps sellers get competing offers from local dealerships. Competition is handled manually—dealers contact you directly. First responses are typically the same day; timing is not guaranteed. Offers are confirmed after a physical appraisal. Dealers can buy outright; you do not have to purchase another vehicle. Submitting takes about 30 seconds and is free to the seller. That is not an instant online valuation.
Several local desks looking at your year, miles, and condition beat one worksheet built to print a payment after fuel and rate pressure.
Trade or cash offer. What a store will actually pay after seeing the car.
Payoff. If you still owe, get a current payoff letter before you compare offers. A large-looking allowance can hide negative equity.
Purchase price and terms. Ask for the vehicle price before trade, the term, and the rate path. Pump prices do not replace financing risk—they stack with it.
Prep for appraisal: service records, two keys, honest photos, tire and body notes. See /how-competing-offers-work, /trade-in-vs-selling-outright, /sell-car-with-loan-payoff, and /sell-my-car-east-texas.
Takeaway: EIA’s September 22 weekly print shows Texas and Houston gasoline still climbing into late September. Get competing offers so local dealers price your car—not a single desk’s need to make the next payment look small.