Valley gas prices have fallen slightly since the beginning of the month, but are still much too close to $5 per gallon for comfort.
The big picture:Costlier fill-ups are the most direct and visible economic effect of the Iran War, which broke out nearly two months ago.
By the numbers: Yesterday's average in Phoenix was $4.74 for a gallon of regular, well above the national average of $4.02, per AAA.
Between the lines: Our gas is usually pricier than the national average — blame our lack of nearby refineries and a federal air quality mandate that requires us to sell a cleaner-burning (and more expensive) fuel blend.
The bottom line: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNN Sunday that gas might not drop all the way down to the pre-war level until next year, even if the conflict ended today.