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The average price of gasoline in the United States reached this Saturday 4.10 dollars per gallon, the highest level recorded since 2022, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The exact average is at $4.104, which represents an increase of more than 37% since the United States and Israel began military operations against Iran on February 28.
Before the start of the conflict, a gallon of gasoline cost around 2.98 dollars at the end of February, meaning that in just over a month the price rose by more than a dollar, the steepest increase recorded in recent history according to the GasBuddy platform.
The psychological barrier of four dollars was surpassed last Tuesday for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when fuel prices exceeded five dollars per gallon for a week.
The main trigger for the increase is the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas transit, blocked by Iran using mines, drones, and missiles since March 4.
The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed on Thursday above 100 dollars per barrel, and futures contracts for May surged 11%, reaching 111.54 dollars per barrel by the end of the last session of the week.
California tops the list of the most expensive at $5.9 per gallon, followed by Hawaii at $5.5 and Washington state at $5.3, while in the center of the country, some states remain below $3.5.
The economic impact is broad and growing: American drivers spent an additional 8.4 billion dollars on gasoline between February 28 and March 31, according to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, and households are expected to spend an average of 740 dollars more during 2026, based on estimates from the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
The 64% of drivers have already changed their driving habits, the Postal Service has requested a temporary surcharge of 8% on certain services, and analysts warn that food may be the next to reflect the rising costs of transportation.
This Saturday, President Donald Trump issued a new 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to strike its energy facilities if it does not comply.
"Do you remember when I gave Iran ten days to reach an agreement or open the Strait of Hormuz? Time is running out: there are 48 hours left before hell breaks loose on them. Glory to God!"
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