BY COMFORT OGBONNA
Gasoline prices are climbing sharply across the United States, putting growing pressure on household finances and raising concerns about the broader economic outlook. A new national survey shows that many Americans are already feeling the financial impact, while most expect fuel prices to continue rising as tensions between the United States and Iran disrupt global oil markets.
According to the poll, a majority of Americans say the recent spike in gasoline prices has begun to affect their household budgets. About 55% of respondents said their finances had been at least somewhat impacted by the increase in fuel costs. Among those reporting financial strain, 21% said the rising prices had affected their household finances to a significant degree.
The surge in gasoline costs comes as oil markets react to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The conflict intensified after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran earlier this year, prompting Iranian retaliation targeting energy infrastructure belonging to U.S. allies in the region. The situation has created fears of long-term disruptions to global oil supplies.
One of the most significant developments has been the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes through this narrow waterway each day. Iran’s effective closure of the strait has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, driving oil prices higher and pushing gasoline prices upward in the United States.
Since late February, the average price of gasoline in the U.S. has increased by nearly one dollar per gallon. For many families already coping with higher costs of housing, food, and other essentials, the additional burden of rising fuel prices has made daily expenses even more difficult to manage.
The growing economic pressure has also raised concerns inside the U.S. government about the stability of global oil supply routes. Officials have discussed the possibility of deploying additional military forces to ensure safe passage for oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Some policy discussions have included the possibility of sending thousands of additional troops to the region to protect shipping lanes and maintain energy flows.
However, military experts have warned that securing the strait could require a significant military presence and might even involve deploying forces along Iran’s coastline if tensions escalate further. Such a move could risk broadening the conflict and further destabilizing the region.
Meanwhile, public expectations about gasoline prices remain pessimistic. The poll found that approximately 87% of Americans believe fuel prices are likely to continue rising over the next month. Many respondents also expect the conflict to deepen, with a majority believing that the United States could eventually deploy ground forces in Iran if the situation deteriorates further.
Despite those expectations, public support for a large-scale ground war in Iran appears to be limited. Many Americans remain wary of entering another major military conflict in the Middle East, especially as domestic economic pressures intensify.
The economic fallout from rising fuel prices could also carry significant political consequences for Donald Trump and his administration. Trump returned to office promising to reduce inflation and strengthen the U.S. economy, frequently describing the country as entering a “golden age” of economic prosperity.
However, many Americans have remained skeptical of those claims even before the current conflict began pushing energy prices higher. The recent surge in gasoline prices has intensified scrutiny of the administration’s economic policies and its handling of the Middle East crisis.
Trump himself acknowledged the connection between the conflict and rising costs during remarks on Thursday. He said the U.S. economy had been performing strongly but argued that the military actions against Iran were necessary despite the potential economic consequences.
The political stakes are particularly high with midterm elections approaching. Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in Congress, and economic issues such as inflation and the cost of living are expected to play a central role in voter decisions.
Survey respondents overwhelmingly identified the cost of living as the most important issue likely to influence how they vote in the upcoming elections. Rising fuel prices, which directly affect transportation costs and the price of goods and services, could become a key factor shaping public opinion in the months ahead.
Public dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of living costs appears to be growing. The poll found that 63% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s management of the cost of living in the United States. This marks a sharp increase from earlier in his presidency, when 41% expressed disapproval shortly after he returned to the White House.
At the same time, Trump’s approval rating on the cost-of-living issue has declined. Only 29% of respondents currently say they approve of his handling of the issue, down from 35% during the early days of his administration.
Economic concerns have been a persistent challenge for the president since taking office again. Critics argue that some of the administration’s economic policies, including aggressive tariffs on imports, have contributed to higher consumer prices across several sectors.
Those tariffs have raised the cost of imported goods, which in turn has increased prices for many everyday products purchased by American consumers. Combined with rising energy costs, the pressure on household budgets has intensified the debate over the administration’s economic strategy.
Overall, only about 35% of respondents in the survey said Trump is doing a good job managing the U.S. economy, reflecting continued skepticism among voters about the country’s economic direction.
The survey gathered responses from 1,545 adults across the United States and carries a margin of error of approximately three percentage points. While public opinion may shift as events in the Middle East evolve, the poll suggests that economic concerns—particularly rising fuel costs—are already becoming a major issue for American households and the broader political landscape.
As the conflict continues and global oil markets remain unstable, the direction of gasoline prices could play a significant role in shaping both the economic outlook and the political environment in the months ahead.
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