U.S. gasoline prices have crossed the $4-a-gallon threshold for the first time since August 2022, marking a 35 percent surge since late February as Middle East conflict disrupts global oil supplies. The average price for regular gasoline now stands at $4.00, with California drivers paying as much as $5.89 per gallon while Kansas and Oklahoma remain below the national average at $3.26.

President Trump faces political pressure as the price spike undermines his earlier claims about falling fuel costs since his 2024 re-election. The administration has responded by releasing 172 million barrels from strategic reserves and temporarily suspending restrictions on summer gasoline blends. However, experts note that presidents have limited control over fuel prices, which are driven by global market dynamics and the war's impact on Persian Gulf oil flows.

Economists warn that sustained high fuel costs could accelerate inflation and slow economic growth, with over half of Americans reporting financial strain from the increases. While oil futures have retreated from their crisis peaks, they remain more than 50 percent higher than pre-war levels. The administration's efforts to stabilize prices depend largely on restoring free flow through the Strait of Hormuz, though experts caution this solution remains vulnerable to further conflict.