Trending Now - Rising Gas Prices Burden Drivers With $8.4 Billion in Costs

WHO:

Alternet - President Trump stated that the high costs during the war don’t “matter” to him.

Alternet - Heather Long is the chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union.

Alternet - The Congressional Joint Economic Committee released the report on gas prices.

Alternet - The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index reported on consumer spending.

Alternet - LendingTree conducted a report on Americans' spending habits.

WHAT:

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - Gas prices in California have risen above $6 per gallon, marking the highest in the nation.

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - The average price of gas in Michigan has increased to $3.89 per gallon, up from $2.99, representing a 30% increase.

[11:09 PM EDT] - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4 - Executive Order 2026-4 issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer allows for the sale of higher vapor pressure gasoline, which is typically 10 to 20 cents cheaper.

[11:09 PM EDT] - OilPrice.com - Jet fuel prices have more than doubled over the past month due to the Iran war, significantly impacting airline profitability and leading to fare increases and flight groundings.

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - The average price of gas in Michigan has jumped to $3.89 per gallon, up from $2.99, marking a roughly 30% increase.

[11:09 PM EDT] - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4 - Executive Order 2026-4 issued by Governor Gretchen Whitmer will allow the sale of higher vapor pressure gasoline, which is typically 10 to 20 cents cheaper.

[11:09 PM EDT] - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a temporary waiver suspending federal vapor pressure requirements, allowing for a wider range of gasoline blends.

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - California gas prices have risen above $6 a gallon, making them the highest in the nation.

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - California has lost nearly 20% of its refining capacity due to the shutdown of two major refineries, Valero and Phillips 66.

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - California's special gas blend requires specialized production, and only a few refineries outside of California can produce it.

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - At $6 per gallon, California drivers pay an additional $20 every time they fill up an average-sized tank due to state-specific costs.

CBS News US - It now costs almost $145 to fill up a Ford F-150 pickup truck, according to a new analysis.

Alternet - Heather Long stated, "The strain is starting to show, especially as gas hits $4 a gallon nationwide," indicating a muted second quarter for spending and GDP growth.

Alternet - A report by LendingTree found that 35 percent of Americans will need to adjust their budgets if fuel costs do not decrease.

Alternet - American drivers have paid an extra $8.4 billion in gas costs since the war began on March 1st, 2026.

Alternet - The national average cost of gas topped $4 a gallon.

Alternet - It costs nearly $150 to fill up a Ford F-150, an increase of nearly $40 since before the war.

Alternet - Drivers of a Toyota Camry are now paying $52.23 to fill up a tank, up by nearly $14 since before the war.

CBS News US - It costs almost $145 to fill up a Ford F-150 pickup truck.

WHERE:

[11:09 PM EDT] - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4 - The executive order affects eight counties in Michigan: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Livingston, Monroe, St. Clair, and Lenawee, which are home to about five million residents.

Alternet - The states worst hit by rising gas prices include Texas, California, Florida, and North Carolina.

WHEN:

Alternet - Trump delivered a national address on March 31st, 2026, stating that the war would continue for weeks.

Alternet - The war began on March 1st, 2026.

Alternet - The report from the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index was released on March 31st, 2026.

Alternet - Trump delivered a national address on March 31st, 2026.

WHY:

[11:09 PM EDT] - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4 - Governor Whitmer stated, "As governor, I can’t end a war overseas or undo bad policies at the federal level that led to higher gas prices, but I will do what I can to try to give families a break."

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - California's gas prices are influenced by a combination of state policies, refinery closures, and global supply risks.

Alternet - Trump asserted that the increase in gas prices has been "entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict."

Alternet - The increase in gas prices has been attributed to President Trump’s war on Iran and Iranian regime attacks on commercial oil tankers.

Alternet - The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has played a key role in driving up gas prices.

HOW:

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - California is increasingly outsourcing gasoline production to Asian refineries, which do not adhere to the same strict environmental standards as California's refineries, leading to increased pollution and supply volatility.

[11:09 PM EDT] - CBS News - California is increasingly outsourcing gasoline production to Asian refineries, which do not adhere to the same strict environmental standards as California's refineries.

Alternet - The report's findings were based on daily average gas prices per AAA, vehicle tank sizes per Edmunds, and federal fuel consumption data from the Federal Highway Administration and Energy Information Administration.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 17:09 UTC)

Gas prices in California have surged above $6 per gallon, making it the highest in the nation, while in Michigan, the average price has jumped to $3.89 per gallon, reflecting a significant 30% increase from $2.99. In response to these rising costs, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued Executive Order 2026-4, allowing the sale of higher vapor pressure gasoline, which is generally cheaper by 10 to 20 cents. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Iran has more than doubled jet fuel prices in the past month, impacting airline profitability and resulting in fare increases and flight cancellations.

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 11:10 UTC)

The average price of gas in Michigan has surged to $3.89 per gallon, a significant jump from $2.99, reflecting an increase of about 30%. In response to this rise, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued Executive Order 2026-4, which allows for the sale of higher vapor pressure gasoline that is typically 10 to 20 cents cheaper, affecting eight counties that are home to around five million residents. Whitmer emphasized her commitment to help families, stating, "As governor, I can’t end a war overseas or undo bad policies at the federal level that led to higher gas prices, but I will do what I can to try to give families a break."

(UPDATED April 3, 2026 03:52 UTC)

California gas prices have surged above $6 a gallon, making them the highest in the nation, largely due to the loss of nearly 20% of the state's refining capacity after the shutdown of two major refineries, Valero and Phillips 66. This spike in prices means that drivers in California are paying an extra $20 each time they fill up an average-sized tank, compounded by the state's specific gas blend requirements and the influence of state policies and global supply risks. To meet demand, California is increasingly outsourcing gasoline production to Asian refineries, which operate under less stringent environmental standards than those in the state.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 19:20 UTC)

Gas prices are making headlines as it now costs nearly $145 to fill up a Ford F-150 pickup truck, with experts warning that the strain is evident as prices hit $4 a gallon nationwide, potentially leading to a muted second quarter for spending and GDP growth. In a national address on Tuesday, Trump stated that the ongoing war would continue for weeks and attributed the rising fuel costs to the Iranian regime's attacks on commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries. A report by LendingTree also revealed that 35 percent of Americans may need to adjust their budgets if fuel prices do not decrease soon.

(UPDATED April 2, 2026 17:20 UTC)

President Trump stated that the high costs during the ongoing war don’t “matter” to him, even as American drivers have paid an extra $8.4 billion in gas costs since the conflict began March 1st, with the national average cost of gas now topping $4 a gallon. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, released on Tuesday, reported that filling up a Ford F-150 now costs nearly $150, an increase of almost $40 since before the war, while drivers of a Toyota Camry are paying about $52.23 to fill up, up by nearly $14. The rise in gas prices has been linked to Trump's war on Iran, attacks on commercial oil tankers, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, significantly impacting states like Texas, California, Florida, and North Carolina.