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Many Americans are cutting back on everyday expenses as petrol prices soar due to President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, now approaching the 10-week mark.
About 44 per cent of Americans said they’re driving less due to high petrol prices, while 42 per cent said they’ve slashed household expenses, according to a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll. In addition, the poll revealed that 34 per cent have altered travel or vacation plans.
Americans are changing their behaviour as national average petrol prices hit $4.43 per gallon on Saturday, according to the AAA motor club. This time last year, the national average was just $3.15 per gallon.
Patrick de Haan, a petroleum analyst for GasBuddy, said Saturday’s average price marked a sobering new record.
“The national average price of gasoline has never been higher on the second day in May than it is today,” he wrote on X.
Petrol prices could jump even higher in the coming weeks, De Haan told the Post.
“We are entering into what could become a much larger energy crisis in the weeks ahead, and instead of realising a potential mistake, both the White House and Iran seem to be dug in,” he said.
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Trump has been “straightforward with the American people” regarding the “temporary, short-term disruptions,” of the conflict, White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told the newspaper.
“The President brought oil and gas prices down to multiyear lows at record speed, and as traffic in the Strait of Hormuz normalises, these energy prices will plummet once again,” Rogers added.
Still, about 65 per cent of US voters blame Trump either “a lot” or “some” for high petrol prices, according to an April Quinnipiac University poll.
The president told Congress on Friday that hostilities with Iran have been “terminated,” and that the US hasn’t exchanged fire with Iran since April 7.
On Saturday, Trump announced he was reviewing a new peace plan from Iran — but warned the nation has “not yet paid a big enough price.”
“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” he wrote on Truth Social.
He also told reporters there’s a “possibility” he could order new strikes if Iran were to “misbehave.”
“If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a possibility that could happen,” Trump said on Saturday.
The Independent
