Gas Prices Drop, But War's Uncertainty Looms

0:00It's April 21st. You're listening to Durham News today. AI-powered local news. I'm Cory with the story. Gas prices across the US by 39% after the US and Israel struck Iran on February 28th, hitting a peak of $4. And 16 cents per gallon by April 9th, the highest since August 2022. Now they've dropped, saving drivers about $2.16 per gallon, on average. Oklahoma leads with the cheapest gas at $3.37 statewide, dipping to $3.31 in Oklahoma. City. California tops the charts at $5.83, with Los Angeles at $5.92 and San Francisco even higher, at $5.96. State taxes, environmental fees, and transport costs explain the huge gaps pushing remote spots like Mono County in California to $6.83. Folks everywhere feel the pinch of the pump, unless you're rolling electric.

1:00Airlines are hammered too. Alaska Airlines saw fuel costs soar up to 81%, posting a $193 million dollar. First quarter loss instead of profits, leading to cancel flights in slashed forecasts. Experts split armor leaf. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson bets on $3 or less this summer, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright, eyes 20. 27. Oil Analyst Denton Sincarana points to this fall. The key? Ending the war to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of global oil flows, blockaded since the conflict started. Negotiations drag with Iran rejecting terms like, no more straight blocks, missile attacks, or nuclear threats against neighbors. U.S. strikes on infrastructure loom, if talked stall, but history shows summer peaks often ease by fall, offering some hope amid the global ripple. Two, cooking gas in India and fertilizer prices worldwide.