Americans have spent an extra $37.6 billion on gasoline and diesel since the Iran war began on February 28, according to Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs. That works out to roughly $287 per household, with the national average pump price hitting $4.52 a gallon as of the report.
51.6% spike in 72 days
Gas prices jumped from $2.98 to $4.52 per gallon in just over two months after the conflict started. That's a 51.6% increase, driven partly by supply disruptions tied to the war. The numbers come from the Iran War Energy Cost Tracker, led by Brown's Jeff Colgan, which uses American Automobile Association data to compare actual prices against what might have been without the fighting.
Airlines feel the squeeze
U.S. airlines spent $5.06 billion on jet fuel in March alone — a 56% jump from February. Supply disruptions from the conflict, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, pushed costs higher. The strait handles about 20% of global energy shipments, so its shutdown rippled through fuel markets quickly.
Food inflation accelerates
The war's economic fallout didn't stop at the pump. U.S. food and beverage inflation hit 7.9% year-over-year in March, the steepest rise in at least a year. That links back to the conflict's broader effect on supply chains and input costs, though the tracker focuses on energy.
Most Americans oppose the strikes
A Generation Lab survey found 77% of Americans believe the military strikes against Iran were the wrong decision. That sentiment aligns with the financial pain at the pump and the grocery store, though the survey didn't ask specifically about fuel costs.
The Brown University tracker continues to update as the war goes on, giving economists and households a running tally of what the conflict is costing them directly. Next data points will likely appear within weeks as fresh AAA numbers come in.
