Gasoline prices in Houston averaged above $3 per gallon on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, marking a significant increase in the last week, according to Houston Public Media. The surge follows escalating tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to oil supplies.
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline jumped nearly 27 cents last week to $3.25 as of March 5, 2026, according to AAA. This increase coincides with a rise in crude oil prices, driven by the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded above $100 a barrel over the weekend, a level not seen in more than three years. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also surpassed $100 a barrel.
The conflict has raised concerns about the stability of energy supplies from the Persian Gulf, a critical oil-producing region. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply normally moves through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. Threats of missile and drone attacks have reduced tanker traffic through the region, slowing the flow of crude oil to global markets, as reported by Click2Houston.
Several major oil producers, including Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, have reduced output as storage fills up due to difficulties in exporting crude. Strikes attributed to Iran, Israel, and the United States on energy infrastructure have further fueled fears of tightening global oil supplies. As of Monday, March 9, 2026, a gallon of unleaded fuel cost an average of $3.129 in Texas, up from $2.616 a week prior, according to AAA.
Oil prices jumped above $110 a barrel on Monday, March 9, 2026, reaching levels not seen since 2022, as concerns grew over prolonged shipping disruptions. Brent crude reached $119.50 a barrel overnight before retreating to around $103, according to USA Today. The conflict began following strikes in Iran that resulted in the deaths of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s supreme leader, and dozens of top officials during a campaign called “Epic Fury,” which began on February 28.
The country’s remaining leadership announced that its retaliation would include strikes on regional energy infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As of March 9, 2026, the national average regular gasoline price was $3.478 per gallon, up from a baseline of $2.984, according to The Pricer.
Former President Donald Trump stated on March 6 that there would be “no deal” to end the war and demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” according to the El Paso Times. He also suggested that gas prices would drop when the conflict is over, but expressed little concern about potential price increases.
