TYLER, Texas (KLTV) – Drivers are paying more at the pump this week as the average gas price rose to $3.16 per gallon Thursday in Tyler while oil prices continue to be volatile during the ongoing Iran conflict.
“Even though the U.S. doesn’t actually get our oil from Iran, oil is a globally traded commodity,” said Daniel Armbruster, the Texas spokesperson for the American Automobile Association (AAA). “So when you have a supply issue or a shortfall in one area, there’s a domino effect around the world, and the United States is not excluded from that.”
He noted the price of crude oil has been volatile, swinging from above $100 per barrel to below $90, then back into the mid-$90s.
Armbruster said that even with the volatility, gas prices are “pretty close” to what they were in spring 2024.
He also said he did not know how long volatility would last.
“Crude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline, so when crude oil prices remain elevated like that, you’re likely going to continue to see elevated retail gas prices,” Armbruster said.
He recommended saving fuel by avoiding rapid acceleration and hard braking, keeping tires properly inflated and using apps to find cheaper gas stations ahead of spring break travel.
“When you think about saving on fuel, number one, we know from AAA research that driver behavior is the number one factor when it comes to maximizing fuel efficiency,” Armbruster said.
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