Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Friday that Americans could continue seeing lower gas prices nationwide, pointing to record levels of domestic oil and natural gas production.

Speaking on Fox News Channel’s The Story, Burgum argued that national average gasoline prices do not always reflect what drivers are actually paying across different parts of the country.

“I have to smile every time I see on the screen the national average for gasoline,” Burgum said, comparing it to reporting a single temperature for the entire country. He argued that gasoline prices vary significantly depending on state-level decisions, particularly taxes and energy policy.

Burgum said underlying energy fundamentals remain strong, emphasizing that the United States is currently producing and exporting more oil than ever before while also reaching record levels in natural gas production.

According to Burgum, differences in energy costs between states are increasingly tied to policy choices. He argued that some states moved too aggressively toward energy transition strategies and away from what he described as affordable and reliable domestic energy sources.

He contrasted those approaches with states that maintained more traditional energy production models, arguing those states have generally seen lower energy costs.

Burgum said the country’s energy abundance should continue putting downward pressure on prices and expressed confidence that consumers could see additional relief ahead.

If that trend continues, lower fuel costs would remain one of the most closely watched economic indicators for households across the country—because few numbers get people’s attention faster than the one glowing back at them from the gas pump.