The average cost of a gallon of gas has jumped 30 cents in less than a week, as U.S. strikes in Iran disrupt the global flow of oil.
WASHINGTON โ Gas prices across the U.S. have jumped again overnight, in what is becoming a worrying trend for motorists as the conflict in Iran has continued to drive oil prices up.ย
As of Thursday, the average cost of a gallon of gas was $3.25 in the U.S., according to AAA, which tracks gas prices in all 50 states and D.C.
That’s a six cent jump from Wednesday, and a 30 cent increase from the average gas price on Saturday, before the initial U.S. strikes against Iran began hitting the oil markets.ย
The cost of oil is rising partly because of Iran’s stranglehold on tanker movement through the Straight of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which about a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped.ย
The strait is governed by international law, but Iran has significant control over the waterway. The strait has never been closed before, though shipping was disrupted in the 1980s.
However, Iran has recently attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz and threatened any ships that try to pass through, effectively closing it.
โThe Strait of Hormuz is closed,” declared Iranian Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, threatened to set fire to any ships attempting to transit. โDonโt come to this region.โ
Crude oil prices are the driving factor for the cost of gasoline, with higher prices per barrel directly tying to consumers paying more at the pump. According to the federal government, there’s a general rule that for every $1 change in the price of oil, there’s roughly a 2.4-cent change per gallon of gas.ย
One barrel of Brent oil, is currently trading at just over $84, according to Wall Street trackers. The increase is having wider effects through the economy, including in the stock market.ย
Analysts, however, aren’t terribly worried yet. The U.S. market has a history of shaking off military conflicts in the Middle East relatively quickly, though that comes with a caveat that oil prices donโt jump too high.ย
