US Petrol Prices Rise 30% Due to Middle East War, Approaching Rp 18,000 per Litre

NEW YORK - Petrol prices for regular unleaded fuel in the United States have surged more than 30% since the Middle East conflict emerged at the end of February 2026. Currently, petrol prices in the US are approaching $4 per gallon.

The average US retail petrol price was recorded at $3.92 per gallon on Monday morning (23/3/2026), according to GasBuddy data.

For context, 1 gallon is equivalent to 3.785 litres. At $3.92 per gallon, the price per litre is about $1.04. Converted to rupiah, this equates to around Rp 17,530 per litre (assuming an exchange rate of Rp 16,933.5 per US dollar).

The petrol price surge has occurred despite efforts by US President Donald Trump to curb the increases and address supply disruptions.

Analysts forecast that prices will continue to rise in line with the spike in crude oil prices.

GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan stated that petrol prices are likely to soon break a new psychological threshold.

“It now seems petrol will reach $4 per US gallon, and could climb to $4.10 per gallon or higher,” he wrote on platform X.

The $4 per gallon level was last reached in August 2022. This increase could add further pressure on consumers already burdened by inflation.

The petrol price surge also presents a political challenge for Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the US congressional midterm elections in November 2026.

However, his second term so far has been marked by volatile markets, policy changes such as tariffs, and geopolitical tensions.

The war between the US and Israel against Iran is disrupting supplies from one of the world’s largest oil-producing regions.

Iran’s attacks on shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz have hampered exports from Middle Eastern producers.