As War Sends Gas Prices Soaring, Americans Wince: ‘Harder to Exist.’

Brandon Moore, a 41-year-old delivery driver who works as an independent contractor for Walmart Spark, described scrambling to find the cheapest gas in Birmingham, Ala., after prices jumped.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by Shocked by the rapid price increases, many Americans are scrambling to figure out how to stretch their budgets to cover an essential expense”

New York Times

As he loaded bags of printing paper into his trunk for his third delivery of the day, Mr. Moore said he had quickly adopted a new driving route to compare prices at multiple stations.

New York Times

On Monday he filled his tank for $2.89 per gallon, up from $2.60 last week, and said he could absorb the increases "for now."

As the U.S.-led war with Iran enters a second week, drivers across the country—particularly ride-share workers and those whose daily routines include gas-guzzling commutes—are reeling at the extra expense.

The article attributes rapidly rising energy costs, including higher jet fuel and diesel prices, to disruptions in crude oil supply from the Persian Gulf.

New York Times

Tankers that normally carry oil there are not sailing, cutting the world off from about one-fifth of its oil supply.

The price of oil jumped above $100 a barrel on Monday after attacks intensified, although it had fallen by late afternoon.

The average price of U.S. gasoline reached $3.48 a gallon on Monday, according to data from AAA, with the highest prices in California and other western states.

The piece says gas prices have jumped by nearly 17 percent since Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel first attacked Iran, and notes that gas costs have not been at these levels since 2024.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by Shocked by the rapid price increases, many Americans are scrambling to figure out how to stretch their budgets to cover an essential expense”

New York Times

It emphasizes that the spikes are forcing people already contending with higher costs of living to stretch budgets for an essential expense.

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