(The Center Square) – Gas prices topped $4 nationally on Tuesday, March 31, according to fuel price trackers Gas Buddy and the AAA motor club.
“Gasoline and diesel prices continue to climb to multi-year highs as the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz curtails the flow of millions of barrels of crude oil each day,” wrote Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy, in the company’s blog.
Even though a small percentage of American oil imports comes from the Middle East, events at the Strait have driven global oil prices higher.
“The situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable, but upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist as long as global oil supplies are constrained by the continued disruption in the Strait,” De Haan added.
If the administration sticks to its estimated 4-6-week timeline for Operation Epic Fury, the operation would conclude by or before April 11. In a post to social media, President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy energy and civilian infrastructure if Iran doesn’t open the strait back up, but he has also made statements that would seem to indicate that he may pull American forces from the region and leave the problem of the strait to others. He encouraged other countries to buy from the U.S. and otherwise, go and take their oil from the strait.
“Build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT. You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Tuesday.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reiterated the president’s latest sentiments in a Pentagon news briefing.
“There are countries around the world who ought to be prepared to step up on this critical waterway,” Hegseth said.
AAA reported a national average of $4.02 for gas prices and of $5.45 for diesel on Tuesday morning. Prices were around $2.98 when the conflict started.
Gas prices were highest in Illinois and the westernmost states, ranging from $4.20 in Illinois to $5.35 in Washington state, $5.45 in Hawaii and $5.89 in California. On the East Coast, Maryland and Florida saw prices above $4, at $4.01 and $4.12, respectively.
Prices were lowest in the Midwest, ranging from $3.27 in Oklahoma to $3.61 in Wisconsin.
