Fuel prices in Michigan were down to a statewide average of $4.15 a gallon — 20 cents a gallon less than a week ago — on Monday, June 8, after the price of crude oil had dropped. But oil prices have started moving in the other direction.
New Mideast strikes between Israel and Iran could threaten to upend a ceasefire, with President Donald Trump taking to social media, urging that the two nations “immediately stop.”
Trump did not detail, as he has in the past, what the United States would do next.
Oil prices, Brent and West Texas Intermediate, which were going down, began trading Monday again at more than $90 a barrel, as concerns renewed that the fighting would continue to disrupt supply through the Strait of Hormuz.
About a fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait, which is effectively closed. The higher oil prices on Monday also seemed to dash hopes that a peace deal was at hand and could scuttle or delay an agreement.
Highest, lowest averages in Michigan
Nationally, gasoline prices are averaging $4.16 a gallon, and diesel is $5.32 a gallon.
High fuel prices remain an economic concern because they cut into household disposable income and drive up the cost of food and transportation of goods.
In Michigan, while gasoline prices are lower now, they are still about $1 more per gallon than before the United States launched strikes against Iran in late February, and many Americans seem to be adjusting their driving habits to make do.
“Michigan drivers continue to see lower prices at the pump,” auto club spokeswoman Adrienne Woodland said, but did not offer warnings or predictions about price volatility, but instead focused on the more than 60-cent drop over the past month.
By AAA’s calculation, motorists are paying about $63 for a 15-gallon fill-up.
Throughout the state, on Sunday, the most expensive gas price averages by community were in Ann Arbor, $4.25 a gallon; metro Detroit, $4.23; and Traverse City, $4.22; while the least were in Flint, $3.95; Lansing, $3.96; and Marquette, $4.02.
Trump promised lower gas prices
Trump on Sunday had promised on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that fuel prices — gasoline and diesel — would “drop like a rock,” coming down, “as soon as the war’s over.” He even said they were “going to go lower than they were before,” which he said was “$1.85 a gallon.”
Asked by Kristen Welker, however, whether prices had peaked, Trump was unclear.
“They’re going to come low, very low,” he said, adding that “it depends where the war goes” and whether a deal is reached. “If we sign an agreement, it’ll go down now. Otherwise, it’ll go down after we’re finished.”
Later in the interview, when pressed by Welker for evidence of his election fraud claims, the president began to criticize the host. He accused her, the show, the network, and the news media of being crooked.
“You’re either crooked or you’re stupid,” he told her.
The elections, he added, were “rigged,” and claimed, “we’re like a third world country.” But Welker continued to press the president for evidence, but he decided instead to cut the interview short.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: As Michigan fuel prices drop, new Mideast fighting raises concerns
Reporting by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
