White House applauds $2.81/gallon US gas prices — the lowest level ‘in years.’ How to use American prosperity for big gains in 2026

“Chill out and go for a ride with the lowest gas prices in years,” the White House posted on X, alongside an image of a gas station with the caption “$2.81, Lowest National Average Gas Price Since 2021 (1).”

At the time of writing, the national average for regular gas stood at $2.819 per gallon, according to AAA (2). That’s down from $3.068 a year ago and far below the record $5.016 reached in June 2022.

Because driving remains essential for millions of Americans, easing gas prices offer some welcome relief — especially after several years of rampant inflation.

It’s not the first time the Trump administration has applauded recent progress on the inflation front.

“We inherited the highest prices ever and we’re bringing them down,” Trump said at a recent rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. “We're getting inflation — we're crushing it.”

Inflation has indeed cooled from its 9.1% peak in June 2022. Headline CPI rose 2.7% year over year in November 2025, down from 3.0% in September (3). That softer reading surprised economists.

As Harvard professor Ken Rogoff told CNN: “It was a better number than anyone was expecting. People were expecting it to be above 3% — it was well below 3%.”

Lower inflation has implications for markets, too.

“Investors will think that interest rates will get cut more, so it was positive news — there’s no other way to spin it,” Rogoff added.

Combine cooler inflation with stronger-than-expected economic growth — GDP expanded 4.3% in Q3 2025 — and the setup for 2026 looks more constructive than many anticipated.

If you share that optimism, here’s a look at a few ways everyday investors can tap into America’s momentum in 2026 — and beyond.

‘The best thing to do,’ according to Warren Buffett

The U.S. stock market has been a powerful engine of wealth creation. Trump has pointed to that strength, recently saying that “the only thing that’s really going up big? It’s the stock market and your 401(k)s (4).”

The benchmark S&P 500 returned 16% in 2025 and has gained roughly 81% over the past five years.

Of course, consistently picking winning stocks isn’t easy. That’s why legendary investor Warren Buffett argues that most people don’t need to pick individual companies at all to benefit from the stock market’s long-term growth.

“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett has famously stated (5). This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: Link your cards and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio.

With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

Build wealth through US real estate

Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of wealth-building in America.

In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining what a productive, income-generating asset looks like. In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check (6).”

Why? Because regardless of what’s happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can consistently produce rent money.

Of course, you don’t need $25 billion — or even to buy a single property outright — to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.

With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net (NNN) leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.

Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.

Invest in private equity

Public markets show just one side of how wealth is created. Many of the biggest and most successful tech companies remain privately held for years, growing behind the scenes and building incredible value long before the IPO bell is rung.

Venture capital is where the early bets on future giants are placed. But, for decades, venture capital has been one of the few remaining tables in finance where retail investors can’t get a seat.

Fundrise finally disrupted that dynamic a few years ago by launching a venture capital product with two goals. One: Build a portfolio of the most valuable private tech companies in the world. Two: Make it available to as many people as possible, with investments starting at just $10.

Today, Fundrise manages billions of dollars in private market assets and their venture capital product is designed specifically for investors like you who want to get in early on transformative technologies like AI.

Check out their venture portfolio today and start investing in minutes.

Keep more of what you earn

Building wealth isn’t just about what you invest — it’s also about what you keep. And while gas prices have eased from their peak, another major cost of car ownership has shot up: auto insurance.

Nationwide, the average cost of car insurance has surged 55% since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (7).

Car insurance is a major recurring expense and many people overpay without realizing it. According to Forbes, the average cost of full-coverage car insurance is $2,149 per year (or $179 per month).