Gas Prices Soaring: Workers & Businesses Struggle

0:00It's March 30th. This is Canada News Today, driven by AI. Gas prices are hitting record highs across the U.S. thanks to the Iran War disrupting oil supplies. The national average for regular gas jumped to $3.99 a gallon, a 34% spike in just one month. Diesel's even worse, up 44%. This is crushing folks who drive their own cars for work, from Uber drivers to delivery gigs and small business owners. Nearly 27% of American workers rely on driving as a key part of their job. Gig platforms like Uber and DoorDash don't reimburse for gas, so drivers like Bay Area Uber rider, Leslie Sherman Shaper, are filling up for closer to $40 instead of $25. She's caulking extra hours just to break even, banking on tips that rarely show up. Workers are feeling the squeeze hard. Getting crews at a Denver housekeeping firm are seeing their take home pay shrink, despite mileage reimbursements at $72.5 a mile.

1:03Pet care bosses in Oakland, bump thairs to $0.80 per mile, and are dipping into savings to help. Everyone scrambling, with maids upset and owners rejigging routes to cut down on miles. Gig apps are stepping up a bit with temporary perks, like extra cash, back on gas for debit card users, or weekly fuel bonuses for high mileage, deliveries, diesel truck operators, hauling junk or running buses, face the steepest climbs, prices doubling in spots like Phoenix and some are courting higher. Rates to customers, risking pushback. As this war drags into its fifth week, businesses are in a tight spot, balancing higher costs without pricing out clients. Workers are pickier with jobs now, aiming for at least a dollar per mile to offset the pain. It'll take dropping prices below $5 steady to ease the load, but for now, it's all about hustling smarter.