The national average price for regular gasoline has climbed to $4.018 per gallon, marking a sharp reversal from prices just weeks earlier, according to AAA data.
The spike represents a 35% jump at the pump since conflict erupted in Iran last month. A gallon of regular gas cost $2.98 only thirty days ago, signaling rapid acceleration in what consumers pay to fill their tanks.
The core culprit is crude oil, which has surged past $100 a barrel since fighting began. But the real pressure comes from geography: the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy markets, remains largely closed to shipping. That passage normally carries roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply. With shipments blocked, worldwide supplies tighten and prices climb.
Pump prices vary dramatically across the country. California drivers face the steepest burden at $5.887 per gallon for regular gas, while Oklahoma offers relief at $3.272. Mid-grade fuel averages $4.541 nationally, premium reaches $4.904, and diesel sits at $5.454.
This isn't the first time Americans have watched prices scale toward the $4 mark. The nation last saw $4-per-gallon averages in 2022, when Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggered energy chaos. Even then, prices only briefly touched this level. The all-time record remains June 2022, when gas averaged $5.03 per gallon.
Public blame for the increase breaks down sharply along different lines. A Morning Consult survey found 48% of Americans hold President Trump and his administration responsible for rising costs. Sixteen percent point fingers at oil and gas companies, 13% cite global market forces, and 11% blame former President Biden.
Consumers see little relief ahead. When polled by Reuters/Ipsos, 87% of respondents expected prices to keep rising as the conflict continues. More than half, 55%, said climbing pump costs have already hurt their household budgets.
Analysts note Trump faces limited policy tools to reverse the trend. The situation depends largely on developments overseas and global energy supply chains beyond direct U.S. control.
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