Topping up your gas tank, brace yourself.

From Marketplace, I'm Nancy Marshall Ginser, in for David Bancaccio.

War in the Middle East has caused oil prices to spike, and right on cue, gas prices have also risen.

They're up 34 cents in a week, according to AAA.

It's the fastest price increase at the pump since the start of

Russia's war on Ukraine back in 2022. Marketplace's Nova Safo has more. The average price for a

gallon of unleaded gas is now $3.32, according to AAA. A week ago, the average was below $3 and had

barely budged for weeks. Consumers tend to be sensitive to moves

in energy and food prices. The White House says it's checking with oil and gas CEOs about

possible countermeasures. But President Trump appears so far undeterred by prices at the pump,

telling Reuters in an interview, quote, if they rise, they rise. The president said he expects prices to drop again once the Middle East conflict subsides,

and he was not planning to tap the country's strategic petroleum reserve, which is currently

57% full.

Generally, analysts agree that the inflationary impact from the war should be temporary,

but only if it's short-lived.

I'm Novosafo for Marketplace.

In addition to higher prices for regular gas, there's also this. Diesel fuel topped $4 a gallon

this week for the first time in almost two years. It's likely to get even more expensive,

and as Marketplace's Kaylee Wells reports,

even if you don't drive a diesel truck, this price spike is going to hit you.

Diesel's price is spiking way higher than crude oils. Morgan Bazillion at the Colorado School of Mines

says that's because that crude oil that comes from the Middle East is a little easier to get gasoline and diesel from than other types of oil.

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