The average price of gasoline in the United States rose slightly above $4.00 a gallon on Monday, the first time in a month, according to AAA. The pump price for American drivers hit $4.56 on May 21.
California has the highest average price in the nation at $5.49. Californians paid $4.49 per gallon a year ago. Indiana drivers pay the lowest price at $3.35, though that’s still higher than the $3.16 Hoosiers paid a year ago. According to AAA, the average price of diesel is currently $5.10 nationally.
The increase in gas prices is directly related to President Donald Trump’s disastrous decision to start a war with Iran on February 28. The president called on Iranians to rise up against their government, while assuring the Americans that the conflict would last 4-6 weeks. Israel, America’s partner in the war against Iran, started a war against Lebanon at the same time and continues to bomb Gaza.
Almost 5 months later, there seems to be no end in sight. Along with basic necessities, Americans pay more for gas. Annual inflation is currently at 3.5%, well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Such were the salaries in the United States increased by 3.5% Compared to a year ago in June, but with the same level of inflation, people only have their feet in the water.
President Trump has given conflicting answers about when the war with Iran will end and has consistently insisted that the war has already been won. The USA launched attacks against Iran on Sunday night for the 9th day and 3 US servicemen were killed. weekend.
Seventeen soldiers have been killed since the war began, despite new information Monday New York Times The Pentagon’s official death toll should give Americans pause. According to the Times, at least three Iranian strikes last week wounded dozens of service members, but the Defense Ministry did not disclose the number of strikes or injuries. The Pentagon also did not say anything about the damage to several helicopters in the region.
When discussing the reason for such a fierce attack on Iran in recent days, the Ministry of Defense mentioned only Iran’s drone and missile attacks against commercial ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively controlled by Iran. These strikes, in particular, halted oil and fertilizer shipments. About 20% of the world’s oil reserves pass through the Bosphorus.
The Pentagon last held a press briefing in late May, and it is unclear when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will next answer questions from the press. It’s also unclear when Americans will be able to recover from high prices at the pump. A week ago the national average was $3.87 a gallon and we are now just above $4.00.
Some Pennsylvania gas stations are selling heavily discounted gas in an apparent ploy to credit President Trump with lowering prices ahead of November’s midterm elections. It is not clear which shadowy group is behind this attempt called “Freedom Fuel Network”. Associated Pressbut the gas stations are owned by an unusual collection of businessmen, an NFL kicking coach and a Republican fundraiser.
President Trump appears to have effectively bluffed his way through gas prices and a rising stock market in recent months. But it remains to be seen how long he will continue to deceive the world. If history is any guide, this could be quite a rollercoaster of prices for the rest of its life, as the price of gas affects almost every product on the market.
The president insisted in a tweet on Monday that the US would retaliate for every US soldier killed by Iran.
“Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they will pay for that killing many times over!” Trump wrote Truth Social. “This directive has been transmitted to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Daniel Cain, and Military Leaders.”
If this is the protocol, this war will not end soon.
