Fuel Prices May Stay High for Months

0:00It's April 7. You're listening to U.S. News today, AI-powered national coverage. Fuel prices might stay sky high for months, even after the Strait of Hormuz opens back up, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest report. That's a sharp contrast to President Trump's promises of quick relief once the war with Iran wraps up. The conflict, now in its second month between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, has choked off oil flows through that vital waterway. Here this week, the EIA dropped its short-term energy outlook, pointing out that reopening the Strait is uncharted territory. We've never seen it. Happen after a full closure like this. They say full shipping restoration could drag on for months, with ongoing supply worries keeping oil costs elevated through the rest of the year. Trump's approval ratings have tanked, as pump prices hit multi-month peaks, and he's been assuring folks the pain is short-lived. He even issued Iran an ultimatum to clear the Strait by Tuesday's end, warning of massive

1:00consequences if they don't comply, but everyday drivers are feeling the squeeze hard. The numbers paint a rough picture, gasoline could average $4.30 a gallon next month, topping out above $3.70 for the year. Right now, the national average sits at $4.14, the highest since August 2022. Diesel's even worse, projected to hit $5.80 in April. Meanwhile, experts warned prices could spike past $5 a gallon soon, without a solid reopening plan. This uncertainty hits truckers, commuters, and the whole economy, so keep an eye on those pumps as talks heat up.