Middle East Tensions Push US Gas Prices Over $4.50 a Gallon
US gas prices have reached $4.47 per gallon nationwide, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), as tensions in the Middle East push fuel costs higher.
The national average for regular gasoline has increased from $4.37 a day earlier and $4.28 a week ago, with California recording the highest average at about $6.09 per gallon, followed by Washington at $5.58 and Nevada at $5.19.
Crude oil prices remain elevated amid geopolitical tensions and constraints on energy supplies, averaging around $100 per barrel, which is contributing to the rise in fuel costs.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key route that normally transports about 20% of the world's oil supply, forcing Saudi Arabia to temporarily shut down its critical East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack.