Gas at $3.60: The Oil Shock and Electoral Pressure Force Washington to Seek Ways to Cushion the Blow for American Consumers

Gas at $3.60: The Oil Shock and Electoral Pressure Force Washington to Seek Ways to Cushion the Blow for American Consumers

At the beginning of March 2026, prices for Brent and WTI crude oil exceeded the $100-per-barrel mark after rising approximately 67% since the start of 2026.

The last time such levels were recorded was in 2022, at the outset of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. For the American market, this quickly translated into higher fuel costs: gasoline prices surpassed $3.60 per gallon and set a new two-year high.

This price impulse has a direct political dimension. For the Trump administration, rising fuel costs mean increased expenses in the sector that shapes perceptions of the economy in Republican districts—agriculture.