evidence: U.S. regular retail gasoline prices averaged $2.60 per gallon (gal) in 2019, 11 cents/gal (4%) lower than in 2018. Gasoline prices rose steadily during the first quarter of the year, rising from $2.24 on January 7 to $2.90/gal on May 6, before gradually declining through the rest of the year. Because the cost of crude oil accounts for about 52% of retail gasoline’s final cost, the price of gasoline generally follows movements in crude oil prices, which followed a similar price path during 2019. [...] East Coast (Boston, New York City, and Miami). East Coast gasoline moved within a range of $2.22/gal and $2.79/gal, during 2019, and prices in Boston and New York City peaked at the start of the summer driving season on May 6 at $2.84/gal and $2.93/gal, respectively. Prices in New York City averaged $2.62/gal during 2019, $2.59/gal in Boston, and $2.47/gal in Miami. Except for a brief two-month period between April and May, prices in Miami were consistently lower than in New York City and Boston. Midwest (Chicago and Cleveland). The Midwest covers a large geographic area consisting of many semi-connected markets and widely dispersed refining centers. Prices in Chicago were higher than prices in Cleveland and higher than the Midwest regional average in 44 of 52 weeks during 2019. Gasoline prices throughout the Midwest averaged $2.49/gal during 2019, which is 12 cents lower than the national average. Average prices for the entire Midwest region moved within a range of $2.00/gal to $2.77/gal during the year.