TENNESSEE — Rising global oil prices are expected to push gasoline costs higher across the United States, with Tennessee drivers already seeing the effects at the pump.
Oil prices surged Sunday after President Donald Trump announced a potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route. The move has raised concerns about supply disruptions and sent crude prices sharply higher.
Brent crude climbed 8% to about $102 per barrel, while U.S. crude rose 8% to $104. Financial markets also reacted, with major stock futures declining amid renewed uncertainty.
“We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don’t like, or whatever it is. It’s going to be all or none,” Trump said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Analysts say increases in crude oil prices typically lead to higher gasoline prices, as oil accounts for a large portion of what consumers pay at the pump. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and the lack of a lasting ceasefire agreement have already pushed oil prices above early April levels, signaling additional increases could be on the way.
In Tennessee, drivers are currently paying an average of about $3.90 per gallon for regular gasoline, according to AAA data as of April 11–12, 2026. That is a significant jump from roughly $3.20 per gallon just one month ago, highlighting how quickly prices have risen.
Metro areas across the state are nearing or surpassing the $4 mark. In places like Nashville, prices have approached $4 per gallon, with some stations already exceeding that level amid ongoing global tensions. Other cities, including Knoxville and Memphis, are also seeing steady increases.
Nationwide, the average gas price is now above $4 per gallon, and experts warn that continued instability in the Middle East—particularly involving one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes—could keep upward pressure on fuel prices.
For Tennessee drivers, the latest spike in oil prices suggests that relief at the pump may be short-lived, with higher costs likely in the days and weeks ahead as the situation continues to unfold.
