Gas prices across the United States have risen to their highest levels since 2023 as the war involving the USA and Iran offsets global oil supplies.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price for a gallon of gasoline reached around $3.79 in March, an increase from about $2.98 before the war in February. The rise in prices have affected households in the USA, including families at Skyline High School. Kirk Flowers, a parent of two Skyline High School students who helps pay for their gas, said, “It’s frustrating, because it feels like every week [gasoline] is getting more expensive.”
According to the BBC, experts say that the conflict had disrupted oil production and shipping routes, causing the price of crude oil to rise. According to ABC News, “Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at over $102 a barrel on Tuesday, up from roughly $70 just weeks ago. And benchmark U.S. crude is now going for nearly $96 a barrel.” Analysts say that the jump is due to disruptions caused by the Iran War and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key shipping route where about a fifth of the world’s oil passes through.
Rising gas prices can also affect businesses by making their transportation more expensive. This can raise the prices for other items such as groceries or household supplies. Certain economists, according to the BBC, warn that higher fuel prices could also worsen inflation as global conflict continues.
Some government agencies have tried to address the problem by opening oil reserves and encouraging more oil production. The International Energy Agency (IEA) made an announcement that they plan to release millions of barrels of oil from emergency stock piles, while the U.S. government has said it will release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help stabilize the supply and cost of oil. Though this could be a short-term fix, families still have to be more cautious about how often they re-fuel their cars.
Flowers said, “It is getting too expensive… It has encouraged me to drive less or when I do, be more conscious of the miles, of the time I spend in the car and driving.”
Gas prices also vary depending on location. States like California currently have some of the highest gas prices, with some prices exceeding $5 per gallon, while Utah averages are around $4.19, according to the AAA.
For families, the largest concern is how long the situation will last. If the war continues to disrupt oil production and shipping, experts from the BBC warn that prices could rise even further in the coming months. Xavier Flowers, a Senior at Skyline said, “Gas is rising so much that I have, like started to be more conscious about where I drive and how far… I think we just have to deal with it in this day and age but [gas prices] are not the most ideal.”
For parents like Flowers, the uncertainty is what makes it most difficult. Flowers said, “You never know when it will stop going up. You just hope things calm down and stop getting worse.”
