New York, Mar 31 (AP) US gas prices jumped past an average of USD 4 a gallon for the first time since 2022 on Tuesday, as the Iran war pushes fuel prices to soar worldwide.
According to the motor club AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now USD 4.02 — over a dollar more expensive than before the war began. The last time US drivers were collectively paying this much at the pump was nearly four years ago, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over USD 4 a gallon for a while now. Prices vary from state to state due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates.
Since the US and Israel launched the joint war against Iran on Feb. 28, the cost of crude oil — the main ingredient in gasoline — has spiked and swung rapidly. That’s because the conflict has caused deep supply chain disruptions and cuts from major oil producers across the Middle East. Both Brent crude, the international standard, and benchmark US crude are now going for more than USD 100 per barrel — up from roughly USD 70 before the war.
Motorists around the world are also coping with higher gas prices. In Paris, for example, gas is at 2.34 euros per litre (USD 2.68), which is about USD 10.27 a gallon.
Expensive gas could drag on the economy and drive up other prices —————————————————————————– Higher gas prices are impacting consumers and businesses as many households continue to face wider cost-of-living strains. And as drivers pay more to cover necessities like gas or even utility bills impacted by soaring fuel costs, many may be forced to cut their budgets in other places.
“Americans (are) spending hundreds of millions of dollars more on gasoline every day,” said Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at fuel-tracking service GasBuddy. That, he said, has a negative impact on the “psyche of the US consumer,” which carries consequences for the economy overall.
Before launching the war, President Donald Trump bragged about keeping gas prices low. Consumer prices and the cost of living have already become flashpoints in this midterm election year, with Democrats hammering Trump and Republicans as the GOP tries to hold majorities on Capitol Hill. A recent AP-NORC poll found that 45 per cent of US adults are “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30 per cent shortly after Trump won the 2024 presidential election with promises to lower costs.
Beyond visits to the pump, analysts point to groceries, which have to be restocked frequently and could also see price hikes as businesses’ transportation and packaging costs pile up. Hauling other cargo and packages has also been impacted. The United Postal Service, for example, is seeking a temporary 8 per cent added charge on some of its popular products, including Priority Mail.
US diesel prices — the fuel used for many freight and delivery trucks — are now going for an average of USD 5.45 a gallon, up from about USD 3.76 a gallon before the war began, per AAA.
“It’s going to mean more expensive bills for truckers, tractors and trains that move the US economy with diesel fuel. It’s going to mean consumers are likely greeted by rising grocery prices — and broadly speaking, a rise in US inflation,” said De Haan.
If the war drags on, it’s possible that those prices could tick up even higher. To Trump’s frustration, most tanker movement in the key Strait of Hormuz — where roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil once sailed through — has ground to a halt. That’s led to cuts from major producers in the region who have no way of getting their crude to market. Meanwhile, Iran, Israel and the US have all struck oil and gas facilities, worsening supply concerns.
Analysts like De Haan reiterate that all eyes are on the Strait of Hormuz — noting that if the waterway remains blocked for long enough, the US average price for gasoline could climb toward USD 4.50 a gallon, or even approach the record USD 5 mark hit in 2022.
Reserves open in an effort to cut prices ———————————————– In a search for some relief, the International Energy Agency pledged to release 400 million barrels of oil from emergency stockpiles of member nations. That includes the US, despite Trump initially downplaying the need for reserve oil.
The Trump administration has also eased sanctions to free up some oil from Venezuela and temporarily from Russia. The White House also says it’s waiving maritime shipping requirements under a more than century-old law, known as the Jones Act, for 60 days.
Still, a lot of factors contribute to gas prices.
Refineries buy crude oil in advance, meaning they could be processing more expensive oil for a while, and it will take time for any new supply to trickle down to consumers.
And while steep crude prices are a leading driver behind today’s surge, US gas prices typically tick up a bit at this time of year. More drivers are hitting the road and trying to fuel up while they can, so there’s higher demand. Warming weather also brings a shift to summer blend fuel, which is more expensive to produce than winter blend.
And again, some states always have higher averages than others. On Tuesday, per AAA, California had the highest average at nearly USD 5.89 for a gallon of regular gas. Meanwhile, Oklahoma had the lowest at around USD 3.27 a gallon.
The US is an oil exporter, but it’s still affected by global prices ———————————————————————– The US, which is a net oil exporter, hasn’t seen as stark a shock as other parts of the world that rely more heavily on fuel imports from the Middle East, notably Asia. But that doesn’t mean America is immune to price spikes.
Oil is a globally traded commodity. And most of what the US produces is light, sweet crude — but refineries on the East and West coasts are primarily designed to process heavier, sour product. As a result, the country also needs imports.
The US average for regular gasoline climbed to its highest level of more than USD 5 a gallon in June 2022, nearly four months after the Ukraine war began and world leaders imposed sanctions against Russia, a leading oil producer.
Prices at the pump later fell from that record. Before Tuesday, per AAA data, the national average had stayed below the USD 4 mark since mid-August 2022. (AP) SKS SKS
Category: Breaking News
SEO Tags: #swadesi, #News, Gas prices eclipse USD 4 per gallon in US, highest since 2022