Gas prices across the Philadelphia region are closing in on $4 per gallon, marking a sharp escalation from levels reported earlier this month as the impact of the ongoing Iran conflict continues to push fuel costs higher.
The regional average has climbed to about $3.89 per gallon, up from roughly $3.03 on Feb. 18, with prices rising steadily through March and showing little sign of leveling off.
AAA spokesperson Jana Tidwell said the next jump is likely imminent.
“We will likely see $4. It could happen in the overnight, it could happen in the next couple days,” Tidwell said. “But, whether we hit $5 or not, whether we break record highs, that’s all tied to the conflict in the Middle East.”
For drivers, the increase is no longer gradual — it is showing up week to week.
At a Royal Farms station in Ridley, one driver said filling a pickup truck now costs close to $90 for about 22 gallons, roughly $20 more than the previous week.
“Gotta cut back somewhere else,” he said. “You have to have gas to get to wherever you’re going.”
The acceleration follows continued volatility in global oil markets, where prices have remained elevated after the initial surge earlier this month. Crude has stayed above recent averages, keeping upward pressure on wholesale fuel costs that typically reach retail stations within days.
The effect is especially pronounced for businesses that rely on fuel.
A regional trucking operator said his diesel truck holds about 200 gallons, and filling it now costs more than $800.
“Something’s gotta give, this is ridiculous,” he said. “To fill it up is over $800. Over $800. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
The costs are already being passed along.
“We gotta pass it down to y’all, to the customer. I can’t take an extra $300 hit every time I fill up,” he said.
Unlike the initial spike earlier this month, which reflected a rapid market reaction to the outbreak of conflict, current increases are being driven by sustained pressure in oil markets and continued uncertainty around supply.
The shift is keeping prices moving upward even after the first wave of increases, with the Philadelphia region now approaching a level not seen since the peak of 2022.
For now, the trajectory remains upward, with the $4 mark no longer a projection but the next likely step as the effects of the conflict continue to filter through to drivers at the pump.
