Amidst the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, gas prices across the United States are feeling the strain, though many Americans seem to exaggerate these fluctuations, a recent survey reveals.
A Politico poll, published Friday, indicates that approximately 60% of American adults perceive gas prices to have increased more than they actually have in their regions. Interestingly, nearly 25% of those surveyed believed their local gas prices climbed by $3 or more, a figure that contradicts actual data.
Data shows that this week’s average gas price stands at $4 per gallon, which has been a consistent trend since renewed military actions between the U.S. and Israel against Iran commenced earlier this month. Previously, the national average lingered around $3 per gallon.
Price hikes are further impacted by Iran’s restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical pathway for nearly 20% of the world’s oil. The involvement of Houthi rebels in the conflict has exacerbated these effects, causing a surge in fuel prices. This week, the international benchmark Brent crude oil surpassed $100 a barrel, a steep increase of over $25 compared to pre-conflict rates, when a U.S.-Iran ceasefire was in place.
The power struggle over the strait and shipping routes in the Red Sea persist, raising fears of a wider regional war and its impacts.
Another 46 percent of voters in the latest survey said gas prices could influence their vote in the primaries and the midterm election. The pollsters also noted that self-identified MAGA Republicans are more likely to underestimate cost increases than other GOP voters.
A separate Politico poll from earlier this week also found support for the Iran war among President Trump’s followers is falling, dropping by 13 points in recent weeks.
“President Trump and his energy team anticipated these temporary market disruptions, communicated them openly to the American people, and implemented an aggressive plan to mitigate any impacts,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said this week. “As the U.S. military degrades the terrorist Iranian regime’s ability to attack commercial vessels and disrupt the free flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas prices will plummet back to pre-conflict levels.”
The Politico poll was conducted from July 12-15 and includes responses from 2,061 U.S. adults. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.16 percentage points.