WASHINGTON D.C. March 18, 2026 – U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) says the ongoing war in Iran is directly hitting families in her state where it hurts most — at the gas pump.
In a video posted on X early Thursday, the former national security official described the scene she witnessed just before boarding her flight back to Washington: “The war in Iran is having a direct impact on Michiganders. They are feeling it in their pocketbooks. The price of gas is up. The last thing I saw when I left to fly back to Washington from Michigan was a 90-minute line for gas at Costco because it’s so much cheaper.”
The video accompanying the post captures the frustration many drivers are facing as they queue for cheaper fuel at warehouse-club stations.
National average gasoline prices have climbed sharply since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, 2026, disrupting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — a key route for roughly one-fifth of global supply. Crude oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel in recent days, pushing U.S. regular unleaded gasoline to around $3.60–$3.72 per gallon, up roughly 60–80 cents from a month ago. In Michigan, the state average now sits near $3.59, according to tracking services.
Slotkin, who has repeatedly warned about the conflict’s ripple effects on Michigan’s economy, has also pointed to higher fuel and fertilizer costs threatening the state’s farmers just as planting season begins. She previously noted that “anything that depends on the cost of fuel is going to go up — that means trucking, airline tickets, and the price of food.”
The senator’s post comes amid broader concerns that prolonged fighting could erase recent economic gains and strain household budgets across the Midwest and beyond. Costco locations nationwide have reported unusually long lines as budget-conscious drivers hunt for the lowest prices available.
No immediate comment was available from the White House on the latest price spike.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring the situation as the Iran conflict evolves and its impact on American consumers deepens.
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