American drivers have paid an additional $8.4 billion in fuel costs since the Iran war started, according to an estimate from the Joint Economic Committee’s Democratic minority. That breaks down to about $240 million more per day just to fill up tanks. This financial hit has been building since February 28, when the U.S. and Israel initiated attacks on Iran.
The lawmakers gathered their data from multiple sources. They looked at daily average gasoline prices tracked by AAA from February 28 through March 31, tank sizes of the top-selling gas vehicles from auto researcher Edmunds, and federal fuel consumption data from the Federal Highway Administration and the Energy Information Administration.
According to CBS News, the national average gas price hit $4.11 per gallon on April 5: a cent higher than the day before, $0.86 higher than a month ago, and $0.85 more than a year ago. Gas prices topping $4 a gallon nationwide is a level the U.S. hasn’t consistently seen since 2022.
Higher gas prices are quietly draining household budgets across America
For individual drivers, the cost difference is significant. Filling up a Toyota RAV4 now costs about $58.26, a jump of $15.02 or a 35% increase compared to before the war. A Ford F-150 now costs $144.65 to fill, which is $37.29 more. Even Toyota Camry owners are spending $52.23 per fill-up, an extra $13.46 compared to pre-conflict prices.
Despite the higher prices, credit card data shows that consumers are still spending, suggesting households are managing for now. However, the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, released on March 31, showed fewer Americans are planning big-ticket purchases over the next six months, which may indicate that elevated fuel costs are starting to affect budgets.
BREAKING: American drivers have paid an additional $8.4 billion in fuel costs since the Iran War began on February 28th.
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April 4, 2026
In other words, Americans have spent an additional $240 million per day on fuel costs since the war began.
The average cost of gas in the US is now up to… pic.twitter.com/I3V5wAENaf
Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, noted that “The strain is starting to show, especially as gas hits $4 a gallon nationwide.” She also said, “It’s almost certainly going to be a muted second quarter for spending and GDP growth as the worst of the inflation shock hits consumers.”
A recent LendingTree study found that about one-third of Americans are already changing their spending or savings habits due to higher gas prices, and another 35% plan to adjust their budgets if costs stay this high.
The Trump administration has said the spike is temporary and that prices will drop once the Iran war ends. Reports suggest that while Trump’s aides expect a swift end to the conflict, Trump himself has threatened to blow up power plants and bridges, resorting to bizarre profanity-laden social media tantrums.
CBS News’ @edokeefe presses Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on rising gas prices and the possibility of a gas tax holiday in his state.
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) April 5, 2026
Moore (D-MD) points instead to the conflict with Iran, saying, “The best thing that we could do to be able to address gas prices is by stop fighting… pic.twitter.com/riRRvV2ot7
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, “When Operation Epic Fury is complete, gas prices will plummet back to the multi-year lows American drivers enjoyed before these short-term disruptions,” adding that President Trump “remains committed to fully unleashing American energy dominance, lowering costs and putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking American families.”
Sen. Maggie Hassan, Democrat from New Hampshire and Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, said “As gas prices soar, Americans are wincing at the pump as the total rolls higher, hoping that they soon hear that click,” and called the report “more proof of the ways in which President Trump continues to make it harder for families to get by.”
A poll of 3,335 adults confirmed that rising gas prices are increasing concerns about the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, the human cost of the conflict is also growing, with hundreds of U.S. troops killed or injured as the war continues, and the Pentagon facing accusations of hiding the true toll.
According to Fox Business, Texas and California have seen the sharpest increases. Texans have paid an extra $1.04 billion in fuel costs since February 28, while Californians have paid an additional $970 million. Florida added $684 million and North Carolina $361 million in extra gas spending.
On the West Coast, prices are the highest nationally, with California at $5.92 per gallon and Washington at $5.38. Diesel has also surged, reaching $5.61 per gallon nationally, up about $1.45 over the past month, and in San Francisco, average diesel costs have surpassed $8 per gallon for the first time on record.
