DENVER - "Ridiculous." "Outrageous." A necessary "sacrifice."
From New York to California, Florida to New Jersey, little red numbers at gas stations remind Americans that driving has just gotten a whole lot more expensive. Drivers across the country spoke with USA TODAY reporters as gas prices hit a national average of $4 a gallon, the highest they've been since Aug. 8, 2022, according to the price-tracking service GasBuddy.
It's not just the price, but the size of the increase driven by President Donald Trump's attack on Iran that has some drivers taken aback. In a single month, prices rose $1.05, the biggest-ever one-month jump recorded by GasBuddy.
Drivers said the shocking price rise is reshaping how they live, work and travel, with higher commuting costs cutting into earnings, and high prices making it harder to visit family or take vacations.
For Amit Verma of Arlington, Virginia, the price hikes have him rethinking driving altogether. On March 31, Verma, 30, paid $70 to fill up his 2015 Audi S7 before his 35-minute commute to Bethesda, Maryland. He said taking the metro adds about 15 minutes to his commute, but that's worth it if gas prices stay high.
