A recent study says Michigan is quickly nearing the price for gas at which residents will begin making spending changes.
The average price of gas in Michigan is $4.25 per gallon for regular unleaded as of Wednesday, April 29. Diesel is averaging $5.19 per gallon.
According to a recent study by Advance America, $4.87 per gallon is the tipping point for Michigan families.
Experts say prices still could increase dramatically because of the Iran war, with Michiganders possibly seeing $5 gas soon.
“Gas prices don’t just hit wallets — they change behavior,” said Laura McCutcheon, VP of Marketing at Advance America. “What’s striking here is how little headroom many Americans feel they have left. For some, we’re not talking about a distant tipping point. We’re already right on top of it.”
The survey, conducted by Advance America surveyed 3,002 adults across the county in early April 2026.
The study found that the Midwest region had the lowest tolerance for high prices, but not the most pressure, as some prices on the West Coast are well over $6 per gallon.
What people said they’ll cut when gas prices get too high
“When prices rise, the first sacrifices tend to come from lifestyle spending. But the margin is thin,” the study says.
More than 4 out of 10 people surveyed (41%) said they would cut back on eating out or takeout first, followed by travel and leisure at 29%.
About 13% of respondents said they would cut back on groceries, with savings/investments and utility bills close behind.
Americans surveyed also said they feel extremely or very stressed about fuel costs and say rising process have forced them to rely on credit and borrowing.
Some people have even canceled plans with friends or family due to fuel costs.
Most Americans look for small, practical changes before making drastic moves, including:
More disruptive options — like switching to public transport (8%), carpooling (7%), or even changing jobs to reduce commuting (5%) — are far less common.
Where to find Michigan average gas prices
Fuel prices across the state can be found on the American Automobile Association’s website. Figures are updated daily and are organized by county and type of fuel.
Michigan’s cheapest gas is in Menominee County, at $4.134 per gallon. The highest price for regular is in in Schoolcraft County, at $4.319 per gallon.
Michigan is about 3 cents per gallon above the national average.
See price per gallon at which different states will start cutting
Methodology
The survey explored household spending thresholds in response to rising gas prices, including the price points at which Americans would begin cutting essential expenses, the categories most likely to be reduced first, and the emotional and behavioral impact of fuel costs on daily life.
The survey, conducted by Advance America surveyed 3,002 adults across the county in early April 2026.
Detroit Free Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michiganders say they’ll cut back when gas reaches this price
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
