Have you recently found yourself in a traffic nightmare at Costco or Sam’s Club? It could be because average prices for a gallon of gas are still more than $4 nationwide, based on AAA data.
California typically has the highest prices in the nation, and that was no different on Friday, when they were above $5.80 per gallon. In neighboring Nevada, prices were almost at $5.
While gas prices were trending down at the start of the year, that changed after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. had joined Israel to strike Iran in late February. Average U.S. gas prices hit $4 per gallon by the end of March and have remained higher than $4 through April thus far.
Continued conflict in the Middle East has also impacted fuel costs worldwide as the Strait of Hormuz – a key transportation route for much of the global oil supply – remains blocked. According to ABC News, there have been thousands of canceled flights in Europe over a spike in jet fuel prices, an energy emergency has been declared in the Philippines and a two-week school holiday in Pakistan was called to conserve fuel used by commuters.
“Economists disagree about whether the standoff in the Strait of Hormuz will ultimately drive the world’s economy into a downturn, in part because the duration of the waterway’s effective closure remains murky,” said the outlet. “The outcome holds implications for the livelihoods of billions of people and the performance of companies big and small across the globe.”
Meanwhile, motorists in Nevada are headed to warehouse membership chains like Costco and Sam’s Club to mitigate the high gas prices triggered by the conflict, 8NEWS reported.
This week, average gas prices per gallon in the state have been higher than $4.90. Averages costs per gallon at Costco and Sam’s Club (chains that charge customers an annual fee for membership in the $50 to $60 range) were around $4.30 to $4.50.
“It is more crowded,” Gideon Maneso told 8News of a Sam’s Club near Las Vegas. He said he never fills up anywhere but Sam’s Club.
“For the price,” warehouse shopper Cheryl Adams told the outlet, “this is a better deal for us.”
“It has to be hundreds of dollars every year,” said Nick Dirosarim. ‘Without a doubt.”Audacy station WCCO News Talk reported Friday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is urging the U.S.’ allies to help with the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. CNN also reported that U.S. military officials were developing new plans to target Iran’s capabilities in the strait “in the event the current ceasefire with Iran falls apart, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.”
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are headed to Islamabad, Pakistan, for peace talks with Iran this weekend as well, according to the White House. CBS News reported that “ the U.S. said it is ready to hear a plan for peace from Iranian officials through Pakistani intermediaries,” though it also noted that Israel launched new airstrikes in Lebanon Friday and a prominent Hezbollah lawmaker said the Iranian-backed group rejects a three-week extension of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire announced Thursday by Trump.
