The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has surged to $3.53 as of 10 March 2026, marking a 48-cent jump in a single week, the fastest rate of increase since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
According to AAA and GasBuddy, the spike is a direct result of the escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has brought maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to a near-standstill. With approximately 20 million barrels of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passing through this vital choke point daily, its effective closure has sent global Brent crude prices soaring past $100 per barrel.
