Gas prices in the U.S. crossed the $4 threshold again as escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran amid the U.S.- Israel-Iran war cast a shadow of uncertainty over the global crude oil supply chain.
Prices Did Not Surge Like This in 2008 In a post on X, GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said that the average price of gas hit $4 again, saying that 2026 was "the first year ever to reach $4 in two separate surges," he said, outlining the price rise following the U.S.-Israeli joint operation that kicked off the Iran war after the country's former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in missile strikes.
Read Also: Vessel Catches Fire Near the Strait of Hormuz off Oman Amid US-Iran War Escalation: Report De Haan then said that such a price surge was unprecedented.
"That didn't happen in 2008, not in 2022, not ever. two $4 runs in the same year," he said in his post.
BREAKING: $4 is back. according to GasBuddy data, the national average just hit $4/gal again. 2026 is now the first year ever to reach $4 in two separate surges: once in the spring, now again. that didn't happen in 2008, not in 2022, not ever. two $4 runs in the same year.— Patrick De Haan (@GasBuddyGuy) July 21, 2026 According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) data, the average price for a gallon of gas was $4.0030 on Monday, with California prices being the highest in the country at an average of $5.4970/gallon.
