Gas prices remain above $4 a gallon nationwide, and drivers across the U.S. say they’re already starting to change their spending habits, if they can.
Some say they have little choice but to keep paying more. “I have to spend—there’s no other way,” said Miranda Alcalá, a Queens resident who drives between boroughs for work.
U.S. gas prices have climbed by nearly $1 a gallon since the beginning of March to a national average of $4.14 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the American Automobile Association. The increase comes as the war with Iran pushes oil prices higher and raises the risk of supply disruptions.
Around $4 a gallon is often where drivers start to change their behavior: About 59% of Americans say they would change their driving habits or lifestyle at that level, AAA reports. That share rises to roughly three-quarters if prices hit $5.
CNBC spoke with drivers at gas stations across the country who say they’re trying to cut back where they can — driving less, combining trips or trimming other spending — but many say their commutes and daily routines leave little room to avoid higher costs.
