Overview
- The national average has climbed to roughly $4.39–$4.43 per gallon, with California topping $6 on average and Hawaii, Washington and Oregon also among the most expensive markets.
- Prices are spiking fastest in parts of the Midwest, with Wisconsin up about 50 cents in a week to $4.31 and some Milwaukee stations posting $4.99 per gallon.
- Higher costs are already biting, as Bank of America estimates Americans have spent about $19 billion extra on fuel and some drivers report shorter fill‑ups and fewer trips.
- Analysts tie the surge to the Iran war constraining the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20 million barrels of oil a day, alongside Midwest refinery issues and the switch to summer‑blend gasoline.
- GasBuddy says the national average could surpass $5 per gallon if traffic through the strait stays blocked through Memorial Day, and analysts caution that any relief would likely take months to reach pumps.