US fuel prices rise: Gasoline returns to $4 per gallon after Middle East flare-up

After weeks of easing fuel costs, average petrol prices in the United States have climbed back to $4 per gallon, driven by the recent flare-up in the Middle East and rising tensions between the US and Iran. According to motor club federation AAA, the national average price of regular gasoline stood at $4 per gallon on Monday, compared with $3.14 per gallon during the same period last year.The average masks significant differences across the country. Motorists in several states have already been paying more than $4 per gallon for some time, while prices remain lower elsewhere. The variation is driven by factors including local fuel supply and state tax rates.The latest increase follows a period of easing prices. The national average first moved above $4 per gallon at the end of March before dropping below that level in mid-June.