In the suburbs of Washington, at a gas station in Falls Church, drivers are grappling with the tangible domestic consequences of the ongoing war on Iran, as soaring fuel costs strain household finances. Jeanne Williams, 83, had just traveled 100 miles from Richmond, Virginia, where she had been visiting her older sister. She was taken aback by the prices displayed on the Liberty gas station’s LED sign. “That is horrible,” she remarked, expressing feelings of confusion and unhappiness rather than anger. “Because we didn’t ask for the war,” she added.
On Tuesday, the average price for a gallon (3.78 liters) of regular gasoline in the US crossed the significant $4.00 threshold, marking a 35 percent increase since the US-Israeli strikes that initiated the conflict, based on data from the AAA motor club. The station where Williams stopped is located on a busy street in Falls Church, surrounded by an Anglican church, an auto repair shop, and a dentist’s office. There, prices began at $3.79 per gallon for cash payments, with higher rates for debit or credit card users. Further along the road, prices reached as high as $4.25 per gallon.
Williams, a retired civil servant currently undergoing cancer treatment, considers her pension to be reasonably adequate. However, with the rising cost of living in the US, she has had to rely on her savings. “Fortunately, I have no children or spouse, so it’s just me, and I help my sister with whatever I have,” she explained.
Meanwhile, US inflation has eased from its pandemic peak of 9.1 percent but remains persistently high, with experts cautioning that the world’s largest economy has yet to achieve stable prices. Prolonged elevated costs have taken a toll on American households. Economist Eliza Winger noted that rising fuel prices affect more than just expenses at the pump; they also reduce overall consumer spending, potentially impacting the broader economy. “We estimate that a 10 percent increase in oil prices reduces real consumer spending by about 0.2 percent,” she said. Since the war began, fuel prices have surged by more than three times that amount.
In a recent consumer confidence report, inflation expectations in the US climbed in March to levels not seen in seven months. Luis Ramos, 26, from New York City, voiced his frustration at a gas station in New Jersey. “It’s ridiculous, honestly. Seeing these gas prices skyrocket, it’s incredible,” he said. “The cost of living is already skyrocketing.”
David Lee, 39, who fills his tank twice weekly at a suburban Washington gas station, shared his perspective. “I feel like every time I fill up, I’m paying at least $10 more than before,” he said. An anesthesiologist by profession, Lee mentioned that while he can afford the increase, many of his friends have complained that they are driving less due to the high prices.
Joseph Crouch, 77, finds himself limiting his driving because of the costs. “It’s ridiculous,” he said, criticizing the government’s handling of the situation. “We are paying the price of the war. They try to say it’s something else, but it’s definitely a war.” Crouch, who uses a cane, wore a hat indicating he is a Vietnam War veteran.
Fred Koester, 78, described the conflict as a “stupid war” that was “totally unnecessary.” Meanwhile, Kristen, a 36-year-old teacher who preferred to give only her first name, acknowledged the pain caused by rising fuel prices but called it “selfish” for people to only complain about the war when it impacts their finances. “We should have cared long before it affected our pocket,” she stated.
