The Iran war and disruption of the Strait of Hormuz are tightening supply and driving up prices, with Los Angeles County gas already at $6.04 per gallon on April 7, about $1 higher than the Tuesday of the previous week. Economics Professor Carsten Lange warns relief will be delayed even if the strait reopens, noting a four- to six-week lag in oil transport, and says prices could climb as high as $8 per gallon, posing “a significant danger for recession.”

This story was originally broadcast by NBC Los Angeles on April 7, 2026.