The price of gas in central Pennsylvania is up more than 50 cents in just one week, soaring since the military attack on Iran began ten days ago.
The current average price per gallon of regular gas in the Harrisburg area is $3.68, up 53 cents from one week ago. The price of oil has become volatile, reaching $100 a barrel Sunday night for the first time since 2022.
Drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on Monday were met with sticker shock when they saw what they were about to pay at the pump.
John Farina says his regular drives to Harrisburg from King of Prussia and back for work are starting to add up.
“You work a lot, and then you get about 55 bucks plus going towards gas,” Farina said. “That’s not including the cost of diesel for trucks and whatnot.”
AAA is offering advice for drivers on how to save fuel, and money, during the spike in prices.
“Make sure your car is well-maintained so you have that peak fuel economy in your engine,” said Doni Lee Fox, with AAA of Central Pennsylvania. “You want to make sure your tires are properly inflated. Also, give yourself some little extra miles per gallon, [and] keep your speeds low.”
How long it will take for prices to return to normal remains unclear, with mixed messaging coming from President Donald Trump on the timeline of the Iran operation.
Drivers say they are hoping cooler heads can prevail in Iran and cool off prices in the process.
“Hopefully, the conflict in the Middle East finishes up quickly and we can get back on the glide path to economic prosperity,” said Sean Duffy, a Doylestown resident.
If the conflict in Iran continues, gas prices could reach $4 a gallon by the end of the week.