War With Iran Is Hitting American Wallets Hard — Especially at the Gas Pump

For millions of Americans, the cost of filling up a gas tank or buying groceries has become a source of daily stress — and a months-long military conflict with Iran is making things worse. From small towns in Texas to rural Arkansas, ordinary people say they are struggling to keep up with rising prices that show no signs of slowing down.

A new poll conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post, and Ipsos paints a sobering picture of how Americans are holding up financially. Four in ten respondents said they are worse off today than when President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025. Nearly one in four said they are falling behind financially. And half of those surveyed expect gas prices to climb even higher over the next twelve months.

The ongoing U.S. military conflict with Iran is a key driver of the problem. Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow but critical waterway through which roughly 20% of the world's traded oil normally flows. That blockage has disrupted global oil supplies and sent gas prices surging for American consumers.

Real People, Real Costs

Jacob Olson, 28, lives in Beebe, Arkansas, and knows the pressure firsthand. After losing his warehouse manager job when the solar company he worked for went bankrupt, he started his own small business making custom wood projects and storage racks. The work requires a lot of driving, and the cost of gas has added up fast.

"One day at a time," Olson said. "One foot in front of the other. ... That's about the way to sum it up."

With two young children — one just a month old — Olson said there is no room in his budget for anything beyond the essentials.

"I don't really do anything, you know, for leisure or luxury anymore," Olson said. "It's all kind of just getting the bills paid ... I have a 1-year-old, and I just had another baby about a month ago, so I've got two little ones, and every day it's getting harder."

In Lubbock, Texas, 66-year-old Brenda Howard faces her own set of challenges. She does not own a car and depends on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to get to work as a cleaner and run basic errands. A single trip to the grocery store costs her around $30. As someone nearing retirement age, she never imagined this would be her reality.

"This is not the way I thought my retirement was gonna turn out," Howard said. "I never dreamed that it would be a day-to-day struggle, sometimes hour to hour."

Martha Davis, also 66 and from Tool, Texas, cares for her disabled son and must travel long distances — sometimes up to 60 miles — to reach medical appointments. She has watched her fuel costs nearly triple.

"I used to get back and forth on like $20, $25, but now it's almost 70 bucks," Davis said.

Changing Habits to Cope

The poll found that Americans are adjusting their lives in concrete ways to deal with higher gas prices. More than four in ten — 44% — have cut back on driving, and a similar share, 42%, have reduced household spending in other areas. About 34% have changed or canceled travel and vacation plans.

Lower-income households are absorbing the biggest hits. Among those earning under $50,000 a year, more than half said they have already cut back on both driving and general household expenses.

Jim Piper, 36, of Portage, Indiana, lives on a fixed income due to a disability and said the rising cost of living is squeezing his budget from every direction.

"I got to pay more, even though I'm not making more," Piper said.

Mixed Views on Who's to Blame

Americans hold a range of opinions on the causes of their financial difficulties and on President Trump's handling of the situation. Andy Breedlove, 51, from West Virginia, said he still supports the president despite acknowledging that prices are too high.

"But with the price of everything else, it kind of evens out a little," said Breedlove, who is not working due to a disability. Breedlove suspects gas prices will continue to climb because of the war with Iran.

Others are more critical. Olson, the Arkansas woodworker, expressed frustration with what he sees as a lack of clear communication from the White House about the conflict.

"He hasn't made a clear statement on why ... we're actually participating at all," said Olson. "From what I know, there's been a lot of just lying and, you know, not being transparent, and ... a big lack of professionalism, which I don't appreciate coming from the president."

Christopher Mosley, 43, a former Walmart employee from Fort Smith, Arkansas, described Trump as "reckless" on foreign policy.

The ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that 61% of Americans believe the decision to go to war with Iran was a mistake. On the question of gas prices specifically, Trump's public statements have varied. In early April, he suggested prices might stay the same or go higher before the midterm elections. On May 1, he said prices would come "tumbling down" once the conflict ended. Iran is currently reviewing a U.S. proposal aimed at winding down the war, according to a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry.

Piper, who said he wishes Trump had more room to pursue his policy goals, blamed political gridlock between both parties for driving up costs — though rising prices remain a real burden regardless of who is at fault.

With midterm elections approaching, the financial strain felt by voters across the country carries significant political weight. Democrats are already viewed as being in a strong position to pick up seats, and economic anxiety could prove to be a decisive factor for many households trying to decide which direction they want the country to move.