GasBuddy: Pressure On Fuel Prices Continues with Ongoing Middle East Tensions03/16/2026Although prices at the pump dropped a few cents in Fort Wayne and Toledo last week, the effects of high prices are continuing to be felt. GasBuddy's Head of Petroleum Analysis Patrick De Haan explains:“Consumers continue to feel the sting of rising oil, gasoline, and diesel costs as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East remain elevated, pushing gasoline prices to their highest levels in years while diesel could soon approach the $5-per-gallon mark nationally. Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist. At the same time, seasonal forces are beginning to intensify as several regions complete the transition to summer gasoline, creating a double headwind that could continue driving pump prices higher in the weeks ahead.” -Patrick De Haan