The pumps near my home are selling regular gas for over $4.80 a gallon. These are the highest sustained prices I can remember.
The background to this should be positive. Growth is up to 2 percent from just 0.5 percent in late 2025. Unemployment remains low. And wages have been rising about 3.3–3.5 percent. That number, being just modestly ahead of inflation overall, is the sign of a healthy labor market, and an early sign of productivity bringing about a higher standard of living- stronger purchasing power.
But in surveys, 80 percent of Americans report changing their spending habits to accommodate rising gas prices. That’s the practical pocket-book issue that can sink an admin.