Gas prices are surging again, and drivers across the country are feeling the sting.
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped 15 cents in the past week to $4.09, according to AAA, with most states now paying $4 or more at the pump.
The culprit? Rising oil prices fueled by instability in the Middle East. Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have pushed crude into the upper-$80 to low-$90 per barrel range, and experts warn prices could keep climbing through the rest of the summer.
AAA says the national average now stands at $4.091, up from $3.943 a week ago and $3.926 a month ago. A year ago, Americans were paying just $3.155 a gallon.
Adding to the pressure, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported gasoline demand increased last week from 8.84 million to 8.94 million barrels per day. Refineries also ramped up production to 9.7 million barrels per day, while gasoline inventories edged higher.
Oil prices are climbing too. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude settled Wednesday at $86.83 a barrel after jumping $2.49. Even with a modest increase in crude inventories, U.S. stockpiles remain about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.
California drivers continue to pay the highest prices in the nation at $5.57 a gallon, followed by Hawaii ($5.42) and Washington ($5.07). At the other end of the spectrum, Indiana boasts the cheapest gas at $3.53, ahead of Mississippi ($3.64) and Louisiana ($3.67).
Florida drivers are getting a slight break, paying an average of $3.93 per gallon, one of the few statewide averages still below the $4 threshold.
