MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Drivers across the country are feeling a sharp spike in gas prices as tensions tied to the ongoing conflict in Iran continue to disrupt global oil supply.
The national average for a gallon of gas has climbed above $4.10, the first time in years prices have crossed that threshold. In the tri-state area, prices are matching or exceeding that mark, with some locations in Manhattan topping $6.99 per gallon.
At a gas station in Midtown, drivers said the rising costs are already taking a toll on their daily budgets. “I pay $5.20, $5.29,” one driver said.
Another added that what used to cost him around $15 a day has now jumped significantly. “Now I pay like $25, $24, sometimes $34. “It’s too expensive,” he said.
In Hell’s Kitchen, some drivers report even higher prices. One taxi driver said he recently saw gas priced at $7 per gallon. “We can do nothing. We gotta pay,” he said.
According to AAA, the national average has surged dramatically in just weeks, jumping from about $2.99 last month.
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Experts say the spike is directly tied to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil route. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow waterway, which is currently controlled by Iran and has been shut down since the conflict escalated.
Dr. Houman Sadri, an expert on Middle East affairs, said even though the United States produces much of its own oil, Americans are still impacted by global pricing. “Oil companies don’t separate U.S. prices from international prices,” Sadri explained. “If global prices go up, we feel it here.”
Sadri warned that if current conditions continue, gas prices are likely to climb even higher. The situation has also drawn a strong response from Donald Trump, who has threatened increased military action if Iran does not reopen the waterway. In a social media post Sunday, Trump warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face what he called “living in hell.”
Sadri cautioned that escalating rhetoric could have unintended consequences, suggesting it may not be taken seriously by the Iranian leadership.
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Beyond the pump, economists warn the impact could soon spread. Rising fuel costs often lead to higher transportation expenses, which can drive up prices on everyday goods.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now forecasting grocery prices could rise more than 6%, double its previous estimate from earlier this year.
For now, drivers say they’re bracing for what comes next. As one put it, relief can’t come soon enough.
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