US households face $100 billion fuel bill linked to Iran war

US consumers have spent an additional $100 billion on petrol and diesel in the six months since the US-Israel war with Iran began, according to a tracker from Brown University's Watson Institute.

The extra cost amounts to about $763 per household, based on an estimated 131 million US households, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Fuel prices have risen across all 50 states. The average petrol price has increased by 39%, from about $2.98 to $4.15 a gallon, while diesel has risen by more than 60%, from $3.67 to $5.90 a gallon.

Petrol accounts for most of the additional spending because Americans use substantially more petrol than diesel.

California has the highest average petrol price in the US at $5.85 a gallon, followed by Washington state at $5.51, Hawaii at $5.39, Alaska at $5.03 and Oregon at $5.01, according to the American Automobile Association.

Indiana has the lowest average price, at $3.43 a gallon.

The rise in fuel costs has also increased pressure on food prices. Oil and gas are used throughout the food supply chain, including for fertiliser, farm machinery, refrigeration, packaging and transport.

As energy costs increase, businesses face higher expenses at several stages of production and distribution, which can ultimately be passed on to consumers.

The war, which began on February 28, has now entered its sixth month. US President Donald Trump had previously said he expected it to last four to five weeks, but there has been no diplomatic breakthrough.

By Aghakazim Guliyev