Almost half of Americans are reducing everyday spending as petrol prices soar to record levels, a new poll has found. The Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos survey shows that 44% of respondents are driving less, 42% have slashed household expenses, and 34% have altered travel or vacation plans.
The national average price of petrol reached $4.43 per gallon on Saturday, according to the AAA motor club, up from $3.15 a year ago. Patrick de Haan, a petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, described the figure as a sobering new record, warning that prices could rise further in the coming weeks amid ongoing US-Iran tensions.
“We are entering into what could become a much larger energy crisis,” de Haan told the Washington Post, adding that both the White House and Iran appeared “dug in”. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers attributed the high prices to “temporary, short-term disruptions” and said they would fall once traffic in the Strait of Hormuz normalises.
However, a Quinnipiac University poll found that 65% of US voters blame President Donald Trump for the high petrol costs. Trump told Congress on Friday that hostilities with Iran have been “terminated” and that no exchanges of fire have occurred since April 7.
On Saturday, Trump announced he was reviewing a new peace plan from Iran but warned the nation had “not yet paid a big enough price”. He also raised the possibility of ordering new strikes if Iran were to “misbehave”.
