US Gas Price Hits $4 Per Gallon Highest Since 2022

The average price of gasoline at US pumps has soared past $4 a gallon, the American Automobile Association reported Tuesday, marking the highest level for the fuel since August 2022. The sharp increase is a direct consequence of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has threatened global energy supplies and pushed crude oil prices well above $100 a barrel. Just one month ago, the national average was significantly lower, hovering under $3 per gallon.

As of Tuesday morning, the national average reached $4.018 per gallon. The most expensive markets in the country include California, where prices have climbed to $5.88, followed by Hawaii and Washington. Analysts note that the rapid pace of the increase—jumping roughly 20% in a matter of weeks—is reminiscent of the price spikes seen during the initial stages of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. The effectively blocked Strait of Hormuz, a waterway responsible for a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, remains the central factor behind the market volatility.

The price hike arrives at a sensitive time for the US administration, with the summer travel season approaching and midterm elections on the horizon. While President Donald Trump has expressed confidence in reaching a negotiated settlement, he has also issued warnings of further military action if the blockade continues. For now, American consumers are feeling the pinch at the pump as surging energy costs threaten to drive up inflation across the broader economy.