Gas price surge hits hard — commuters feel the pain as costs may rise even more

Gas prices are going up quickly, and many people in the U.S. are finding it hard to manage their daily budgets. Steven Bolton, who sells cars and drives a Mercedes, said he is now more worried about money than car damage. He drives 11 miles from Warren, Michigan, to Bloomfield Hills for work. Earlier, filling his tank cost about $70, but now it costs nearly $120. This shows how much prices have increased.

Bolton said he now spends about $10 a day on gas and has started cutting daily expenses. He orders lunch only once or twice a week to save money. He also took some money from his retirement savings to pay bills. He is thinking about changing his driving habits to save fuel. He may trade his Mercedes for a hybrid or electric car. He is also considering moving his son to a preschool closer to home to avoid a 10-mile drive.

Gas prices hit commuters

Bolton said he hopes gas prices do not go up to $10 per gallon. He also believes prices may drop after the war ends. About 7 out of 10 Americans travel to work by car, so many people are affected. The average commuter already spends around 63 hours a year in traffic.


Higher home prices are forcing people to live farther from their workplaces, which makes their travel time longer. The Iran war has disturbed oil supply routes, and this is pushing fuel prices higher.

Daily travel costs rising

The national average for regular gasoline has crossed $4 a gallon. Many commuters already dealing with inflation are struggling to handle the added fuel costs. The average daily cost of commuting has jumped 11% to $17.17, including maintenance and parking. If gas reaches $5 a gallon, commuting could cost $18.75 a day or $2,719 a year, as cited by USA Today. That would be a 21% increase compared with prewar levels.

Household budgets under pressure

Gas prices have risen more than $1 since Feb. 28, the biggest monthly jump recorded. Analysts Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy, says prices may keep rising as the Iran war continues. Transportation is the second-largest household expense after housing. Transportation accounts for about 17% of household spending. Americans spent nearly $8 billion more on gasoline in the past month. A consumer index measuring surprise at gas prices rose to 29.3 in March, the highest since April 2024.

Many commuters are combining errands to drive fewer miles. Some are cutting back on extra spending and rethinking summer travel. Cincinnati city council member Mark Jeffreys said people, especially seniors, are complaining about high gas costs, as noted by USA Today. He said residents on fixed incomes are struggling as other bills also rise. Experts say oil prices may stay high even if the war ends soon. Higher fuel costs could also push food and other goods prices up.

Drivers look for alternatives

Consumer sentiment fell to a three-month low in March due to economic concerns. Higher oil prices affect air travel, freight and shipping costs. These rising costs reduce spending in other areas. College students are also feeling the impact strongly. Tyler Dunham drives 40 miles to campus five times a week. He spends about $130 weekly to fill his SUV twice. The extra $20 to $40 per fill-up forced him to reduce eating out and deliveries.

People who drive for work are facing even bigger challenges. Mileage reimbursements do not cover rising costs fully. Ride-hailing drivers are getting small fuel discounts from companies. Uber driver Ervin Hansen said higher fuel and maintenance costs cut into earnings. He now pays around $5.62 per gallon compared with $3.89 six weeks earlier, as per the report by USA Today. Renting a vehicle added about $50 per day in gas costs. Hansen described the situation as “rough.”

Experts suggest employers offer temporary subsidies or bonuses to help workers. Some companies are allowing work-from-home days to reduce commuting. Flexible schedules may help employees avoid peak traffic and save fuel. More commuters are considering biking, carpooling or public transport. Financial adviser Boris Kagarlitskiy has been biking to work for years. He started cycling when gas prices rose during the Obama administration. He says biking saves money and improves health.

FAQs

Q1. Why are gas prices rising in the U.S.?

Gas prices are rising mainly because the Iran war disrupted oil supply and pushed fuel costs higher.

Q2. How are high gas prices affecting commuters?

Commuters are cutting spending, driving less, and looking for cheaper travel options as daily fuel costs increase.