US gas prices climb back to USD 4 per gallon as Iran conflict intensifies

US gas prices jumped back to USD 4 a gallon on average Monday as Washingtons latest fighting with Iran renews strain on the flow of fuel worldwideAccording to motor club AAA the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now just above the USD 4 mark Thats about 13 cents more expensive than it was a week ago and far higher than where prices at the pump stood at this time last year when American drivers could full up for about USD 314 a gallon on averageThe US and Israels war with Iran plunged the world into an global energy crisis notably as the cost of crude oil the main ingredient in gasoline soared due to supply chain and production disruptions across the Middle EastEnergy prices cooled last month when Washington and Tehran reached an interim agreement aimed at permanently ending their fighting and reviving traffic in the key Strait of Hormuz But that peace deal has now crumbled with the US on Monday only intensifying airstrikes against Iran which has responded by launching its own attacks on American allies in the region And oil flows are largely stalling againMany eyes are on the White House Before colaunching the war in late February President Donald Trump once bragged about keeping gas prices low and expressed frustration about them not falling as quickly as the cost of crude oil last month If prices continue to rebound expensive gas will likely be at the top of voters minds during the midterm elections this NovemberWhere gas prices stand todayUS gas prices are now back at the USD 4 mark But that figure is a national average meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over USD 4 a gallon for a while now while others pay lessCalifornia on Monday continued to see the most expensive gas with an average of nearly USD 550 a gallon followed by almost USD 542 in Hawaii and USD 501 in Washington state per AAA Meanwhile states like Indiana and Mississippi have averages closer to 335 and 357 respectively Prices vary between due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax ratesCrude oil is the main ingredient in gasoline and its cost makes up the bulk of what consumers pay at the pump Theres a bit of a delay because refineries buy crude in advance and deliveries of that oil take time But the latest gas prices follow an uptick in oil costs seen over recent weeks The price of Brent crude the international standard swung between roughly USD 86 to USD 91 a barrel Monday compared to closer to 72 at the start of JulyOil has been volatile throughout the course of the war with prices soaring more rapidly in the conflicts early days In March Brent climbed as high as nearly USD 120 per barrel Meanwhile US gas prices hit a fouryear record of more than 450 a gallon in MayThe national average fell as low as USD 379 a gallon earlier this month And the latest turnaround is bringing whiplash to some driversI am down to the last drops of gas said Litza Mavrothalasitis a Chicago resident when filling her tank on Monday adding that she was shocked to see how high had gone up again It was justunbelievable I thought we were finally settling downJacob Fisher another Chicago resident who was buying gas on Monday added that thinking about whats behind these higher fuel costs makes me angrySenseless war in Iran and our current administration is fueling a lot of this and its terrible Fisher said It is not serving the American people Nor does it serve anywhere in the entire worldThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever