Updated on: May 6, 2026 / 1:59 PM EDT / CBS News

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Gasoline prices across the U.S. surged to an average of $4.54 a gallon on Wednesday, the highest since July 2022, according to AAA data .

The price of regular gas has jumped 52%, or $1.56 per gallon, since the start of the Iran war in late February, as disruptions to oil flows in the Middle East drive up costs for motorists. The cost is approaching the highest-ever gas price, when it reached $5.02 a gallon in June 2022 during a pandemic-era spike in inflation.

Fuel costs climbed even as oil prices edged lower Wednesday on renewed hopes for a U.S.-Iran agreement , highlighting a disconnect between crude markets and what drivers pay at the pump.…