Charted: Pump pain
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Gas prices are climbing again in Des Moines, with the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded nearing $4 for the first time in a year.
Why it matters: Higher pump prices hit commuters, delivery costs and summer travel budgets — and the spike has been unusually fast.
By the numbers: Des Moines' average regular gas price was $3.98 on May 1, up from $3.67 in April and $3.27 in March, according to GasBuddy.
- Nationally, the average hit $4.44 on May 1, up from $4.10 in April and $3.71 in March.
The latest: Prices remained largely unchanged as of late Monday, according to AAA data.
The big picture: The Iran war-driven oil shock is driving up gas prices and complicating summer travel plans. The U.S. is better insulated than Europe or Asia against outright shortages, but it still stings.
- Prices are now at or near their highest level since mid-2022, when the national average was about $5 per gallon after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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