U.S. Gasoline Prices Rise Amid Middle East Tensions

The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline climbed to $4.09, up 15 cents from the previous week, after a series of regional oil market disruptions. The Energy Information Administration reported a modest increase in gasoline demand and supply, while crude oil settled near $87 a barrel following volatility in the Strait of Hormuz.

In Los Angeles County, the self‑serve price reached $5.68 per gallon, marking an 11‑day streak of increases, and similar hikes were recorded in Orange County. Both local and national price surges have been linked to the joint U.S./Israel strike on Iran on Feb. 28, which pushed crude oil into the $90‑a‑barrel range and is expected to keep pump prices elevated through the summer.