Michael Williams of Westchester, N.Y., said the recent increases are hitting his livelihood hard. "I'm concerned. I'm very concerned," he said. Williams, a truck driver, said he and others are now taking a closer look at their expenses as fuel prices tick upward again. "It's something that you really have to consider as far as work with anything to do with traveling. It's now starting to affect the pay wages as well," he said.
Oil prices rose this week after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire ended and military strikes resumed. According to AAA, the average cost of gas increased a few cents over the last week, including a 5 cent rise in the Philadelphia area, a 9 cent jump in South Jersey and a 19 cent increase in Delaware.
For Williams, the impact is clear. "It's almost double than what I used to pay," he said.
Other drivers echoed the frustration. "I think they're outrageous," said Richard Bauman of Wynnewood. Bauman said he feels fortunate to have purchased a hybrid vehicle before the war began. "The hybrid feature really kicked in, especially now," he said.
"Definitely like the idea of hybrid and having that best fuel efficiency for local driving," Allen Kramerov of Bala Cynwyd said.
Despite their different vehicles and circumstances, several drivers said they hope geopolitical tensions ease and prices fall. "I hope it gets resolved and there is a ceasefire," Kramerov said.
"If the prices don't go back down, then I will have to start making some adjustments," Williams said.
Experts say global oil demand is expected to decline this year for the first time since 2020 due to high prices and supply disruptions.