Hottest U.S. gas prices in years leave drivers feeling burned

MoneyWatch Hottest U.S. gas prices in years leave drivers feeling burned .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Mary Cunningham Mary Cunningham Reporter, MoneyWatch Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. She previously worked at "60 Minutes," CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program. Read Full Bio Mary Cunningham May 7, 2026 / 5:00 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google The surging cost of filling up her car is taking a toll on Melissa Miles's finances — and her classroom attendance.A full-time student in social work at Eastern Michigan University, she commutes daily in her 2015 Chevrolet Sonic between school and her home 80 miles away in Hillsdale, Michigan. But with gasoline prices in the state now averaging $4.80 a gallon, the 42-year-old told CBS News she has started skipping some classes to avoid the drive."Literally every day, I have to figure out, do I have the groceries for the week, or do I have the necessities for today? And then compare it to, can I miss this class?" said Miles, a single mom whose budget includes looking after her five-year-old son. Melissa Miles with her five-year-old son, Kingston. Miles regularly travels 160 miles round-trip to attend classes at Eastern Michigan University. Miles is one of the millions of U.S. motorists grappling with sharply higher prices at the pump due to the Iran war. The national gas price rose on Wednesday to $4.54 a gallon, up more than $1.50 since the conflict erupted in late February, according to AAA. The cost of diesel has also jumped to $5.67, up from $3.54 a year ago, and is threatening to drive up the prices of countless goods delivered by truck and rail. Although President Trump said this week that the U.S. is making "great progress" in its negotiations with Iran, economists and energy experts predict that fuel costs are likely to remain elevated for months to come. Mark...