Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on Friday suspended the state\u2019s gas tax amid rising fuel prices as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran enters its third week.<\/p>\n
The move \u2013 the first such relief offered by a U.S. state since the war started on February 28 \u2013 suspends Georgia\u2019s tax of 33.3 cents per gallon on gas and 37.3 cents per gallon on diesel for 60 days.<\/p>\n
The conflict has choked supplies from the Middle East \u2013 one of the world\u2019s top oil-producing regions \u2013 so severely that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering military options to ensure safe passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route near Iran.<\/p>\n
The U.S. national average gas price on Friday was $3.912 a gallon, the highest since October 2022 and up 31% since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began.<\/p>\n
Fifty-five percent of respondents in a recent Reuters\/Ipsos poll said their household finances had taken at least \u201csomewhat\u201d of a hit from the increases in gas prices. Among those seeing an impact, 21% said their finances were affected \u201ca great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump told Reuters earlier this month he was not concerned about the rising prices at the pump, saying he expected prices to decrease \u201cvery rapidly\u201d once the war ended.<\/p>\n
Fox News, citing the White House, reported on Friday that the Trump administration was working on options to alleviate the burdens felt by Americans at the pump.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by Jasper Ward in Washington; editing by Michelle Nichols)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n