Fuel prices in the USA have surged sharply following a joint US and Israeli attack on Iran. The national average price per gallon of gasoline jumped by more than 10 cents in just one day.
Price Jump Over a Day and a Month
On Monday, the average price was $2.997, but by Tuesday it had risen to $3.109. This is an increase of 11.2 cents, and compared to a week ago, prices are higher by $0.158. A month ago, the average price was only $2.883.
Comparison with Last Year and Regional Differences
Compared to last year, the situation is mixed. Regular unleaded gasoline is cheaper by one cent than in 2025, but mid-grade, premium, and diesel fuel are more expensive year-over-year. Diesel, in particular, has risen sharply – from $3.652 to $3.891.
Prices vary significantly depending on the state. California has the highest prices in the country – averaging $4.674 per gallon. This is two dollars more than drivers in Oklahoma pay, at $2.624.
The Iranian regime’s killer drones have been a menace in the Middle East for years. These drones are no longer a tolerable risk. pic.twitter.com/76yhDKI6OW — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 3, 2026
Forecasts and Comments on the Situation
Despite the increase, prices are still significantly lower than the historical peak of $5.016 per gallon recorded on June 14, 2022. However, prices are expected to continue rising, as the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose by 5.01%, to $74.80 per barrel.
Previous estimates indicated that gasoline prices could rise by approximately 20 cents per gallon, but this largely depends on oil prices and events in the Middle East.
Defense Minister Pete Hegseth stated that there is no clear timeline for the completion of military operations. He emphasized that the mission has a clear and decisive goal – to destroy the missile threat, the fleet, and prevent the development of the nuclear program, without nation-building objectives, indicating the relatively limited nature of Operation “Epic Fury”.
Detailed Fuel Price Statistics
Regular: Current avg. – $3.109, Yesterday – $2.997, Week ago – $2.951, Month ago – $2.883, Year ago – $3.097.
Mid-Grade: Current avg. – $3.609, Yesterday – $3.486, Week ago – $3.459, Month ago – $3.391, Year ago – $3.566.
Premium: Current avg. – $3.978, Yesterday – $3.861, Week ago – $3.826, Month ago – $3.752, Year ago – $3.922.
Diesel: Current avg. – $3.891, Yesterday – $3.770, Week ago – $3.727, Month ago – $3.630, Year ago – $3.652.
E85: Current avg. – $2.421, Yesterday – $2.359, Week ago – $2.299, Month ago – $2.287, Year ago – $2.495.
The sharp spike in fuel prices clearly demonstrates how much the global economy, particularly the consumer sector, depends on geopolitical stability in key oil-producing regions. The speed of the increase – over 10 cents per day – is indicative of markets reacting to the threat of supply disruptions. Although current prices are far from the record highs of 2022, the dynamics and comments from officials give no reason to expect a quick stabilization. The situation with diesel fuel, which is widely used in commercial transport and logistics, could have a cascading effect on the cost of goods and services across the country, amplifying inflationary pressure. The regional price difference, as in the example of California and Oklahoma, is a reminder of internal factors such as taxes and environmental standards, which also shape the final price for the consumer.