It’s time for Page Two: News that might not make the front page for Wednesday March 11, 2026.
Have you been shocked at the price at the gas pump lately? It’s been trending upward for a while.
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran last month. The situation escalated and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is a critical shipping route for oil.
The closure triggered a global energy shock.
It rattled energy markets and destabilized crude oil prices. They soared above $100 per barrel. Prices are higher and continue to see-saw up and down. The effects rippled through gasoline markets across the Lower 48 within days.
This produced one of the fastest increases in gas prices since the energy crisis of 2022. Gasoline prices across the Lower 48 climbed. Two days ago, the national average cost of a gallon of gasoline had jumped about 17 percent to roughly $3.48 per gallon.
The increase was part of an upward trend, not a brief spike. The national average price of gas had risen for ten consecutive days by yesterday. The increase totaled about 56 cents per gallon. In some regions of the Lower 48—particularly those most directly connected to the Gulf Coast refinery system—prices surged even more. Increases ranged between 20 and 23 percent.
Gas prices increased in Alaska, too. The rate of increase was slower than the national average early in the Mideast crisis. Alaska saw about a nine percent increase in prices, compared to the steeper national climb. This was due to Alaska’s fuel supply system.
Much of the Lower 48 relies on refineries and distribution networks tied to the Gulf Coast. It felt an immediate impact from disruptions in global oil flow. Alaska relies on different supply chains. This insulated us from the shocks.
This slower rate of increase did not mean Alaskans were paying less at the pump. Gas prices in the state were already higher than the national average due to our geographic isolation, transportation costs, and smaller fuel distribution infrastructure.
By early March, the average price for regular gas in Alaska was about $3.92 per gallon. In some Alaskan communities prices were higher. The national average fluctuated between about $3.48 and $3.54 at that time.
While the rest of the country experienced rapid and dramatic price jumps, Alaska faced a more gradual increase on top of already elevated prices. Analysts noted that this “slower and softer” rise could ultimately prove persistent, as global oil market pressures continued to work their way through supply chains.
Both Lower 48 and Alaskan gas prices continued to trend upward as the conflict continued this month. Energy analysts warn that the initial price surge could be the beginning. More severe price increases are possible if disruptions in the Middle East persist or worsen.
Sources for this article include the Sherwood News, NBC 7 San Diego, and the Institute for Energy Research.
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This Page Two article was written by Mike Chmielewski and read by Lee Henrikson.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Wednesday March 11, 2026.