The war in Iran has caused a spike in gas prices that is hitting California consumers especially hard, according to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA).

AAA reports that in California, the most expensive US market for gas, the average price per gallon on Monday was $5.20, compared with $3.47 nationally. The national average climbed nearly $0.50 since the conflict began more than a week ago, while in the Golden state it rose by $0.55.

Since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, leading to intensifying violence across the Middle East, the price of oil surged to more than $100 a barrel for the first time in nearly four years. The conflict has damaged oil and gas facilities and stranded ships carrying roughly 20m barrels of oil a day in the Gulf.

About 20% of the world’s oil is shipped through the strait of Hormuz every day but the channel has essentially been closed for the last week.

  • favoredponcho@lemmy.zip
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    12 hours ago

    It’s always funny to me how people say they need a big vehicle.

    Some how parents with special needs kids get by just fine in countries without American-sized trucks and SUVs, which is most countries on the planet.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.world
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      12 hours ago

      Try to shove electric wheelchairs, 3 kids, 2 of which are special needs, and two adults into a small vehicle. Nobody anywhere is pulling that off. Get off your high horse.