Gas Prices Soaring, Americans Feel Impact

0:00On March 20, gas prices are climbing fast across the United States, squeezing family budgets amid the conflict with Iran. A recent Reuters' Ipsos poll shows 55% of Americans saying their household finances have felt at least some impact from the higher costs. At the pump, among them, 21% report a major hit. The average price nationwide has jumped nearly $1 per gallon since late February, when U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran led to counterattacks. And the partial shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, that waterway handles one-fifth of the world's oil, and the disruptions have rippled through global supplies. Most folks in the poll, 87%, expect gas prices to keep rising over the next month. Many also predict the U.S. might send troops for major operations in Iran, though support for that stays low. Meanwhile, the administration is weighing options like deploying thousands more soldiers to guard oil tankers. Public frustration is growing, with 63% now disapproving of how President Trump is handling

1:02the cost of living, upsharply from, earlier in his term. Only 35% approve of his economic leadership overall, as tariffs in the war-fueled broader price hikes. This could spell trouble for Republicans eyeing mid-term races, where voters rank living costs as their top concern. As tensions simmer, households brace for more pain at the pump and beyond.