Gas Prices Soar: States Hit Hardest, Experts Weigh In

0:00Gas prices are spiking hard across the country thanks to the ongoing war in Iran, pushing the national average to $4.11 since A. Galen on April 15, 2026. That's a 29.5% jump from last year, with every single state and major metro seeing at least double-digit hikes since the. Conflict kicked off late February. States like Kentucky took the biggest hit, up 42.5% to nearly four bucks a gallon, with Tennessee close behind at 42, 0.2% and New Hampshire at 38.8%. Metro's and Kentucky and Tennessee saw even wilder swings, some topping 50% increases. Consumers are filling the pinch big time, as these pump prices fueled the sharpest yearly inflation jump since May 2024 back in March. Families stretching budgets amid rising costs everywhere, no escape from the daily grind at the station. On the flip side, midwest spots like Nebraska only climbed 18.4% to $3.63, the smallest rise.

1:03While California tops the charts now at $5.88, Hawaii at $5.65 and Oklahoma sits lowest at $3.44. Experts say prices stay elevated all summer, unless talks heat up, like President Trump hinting at U.S. Iran negotiations in the next couple days. For now, fill up smart and watch those wallets. That's the story for today. California News Today, Driven by AI