Pump Prices Sticky Despite Crude Decline

Crude oil prices have cooled significantly, but retail fuel prices have not kept pace. The global average retail price is still hovering around $202 per barrel, having recovered only about 45% of its early 2026 surge. In contrast, Brent crude has unwound roughly 70% of its earlier gains.

The divergence highlights lagging pass-through from wholesale to retail markets. While traders watch crude benchmarks for direction, consumers continue to face elevated costs at the pump.