Pittsburgh gas prices rise after Iran strikes

• The national average price of unleaded gas hit $3.19 a gallon on Wednesday, up from $2.97 last week, per AAA.

Zoom in: The average price of gas in Pennsylvania was $3.29 a gallon on Wednesday, up 17 cents from a week ago.

• Pittsburgh-area gas prices rose 17 cents to $3.42.

Between the lines: Gas stations can change prices multiple times a week. Operating on thin margins, they typically price based on what their next fuel shipment will cost — not what they paid for what's already in their tanks.

Zoom out: The oil price spike will also lead to increases in diesel, jet fuel, heating oil and natural gas prices, likely increasing the cost of shipping, airline tickets and home heating.

• There could be ripple effects on prices for goods ranging from cookware to fertilizer.

What we're watching: Tom Kloza, a longtime oil analyst now working for Gulf Oil, tells Axios he expects the national average price to reach a high of $3.25 to $3.50 in the coming weeks.

• His prediction stems from a sudden increase in petroleum prices as traders fear disruption in crude supplies from the Middle East.

The bottom line: Prices were already on the rise as gas stations prep for the annual switch from winter-blend gasoline to more expensive summer fuel, Kloza says.