\n<\/p>\n
Rising gasoline prices are already starting to bite US. household \u200bfinances and Americans overwhelmingly expect fuel costs will keep climbing as President Donald Trump\u2019s war with Iran crimps \u200cglobal oil supplies, a new Reuters\/Ipsos poll found.<\/strong><\/p>\n Some 55% of respondents in the Tuesday-through-Thursday 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 The average price of gasoline \u200bin America has surged by nearly a dollar per gallon since February 28 when the U.S. and Israel \u200battacked Iran, prompting Iranian counterstrikes on the energy installations of U.S. allies and the effective closure \u2060by Iran of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-fifth of the global oil supply.<\/p>\n The economic risk is so dire \u200bthat the Trump administration has mulled deploying thousands of additional U.S. troops to ensure safe passage of oil tankers through the \u200bstrait, an endeavor some officials have warned might require deploying U.S. troops to Iran\u2019s shoreline.<\/p>\n AMERICANS EXPECT GAS TO RISE<\/strong><\/p>\n Some 87% of Americans consider it likely that gas prices will rise further over the coming month. The poll found that most Americans also expect the U.S. will deploy U.S. troops for \u200blarge-scale ground operations in Iran, though few support the idea.<\/p>\n Trump returned to office last year promising to fix years of \u200bhigh inflation and ignite an economic boom. He spent much of the last year asserting he had done this, saying last month the \u200ccountry \u2060was living in a \u201cgolden age.\u201d Even before the war, few Americans agreed.<\/p>\n Trump on Thursday appeared to acknowledge his role in the surging costs, saying, \u201cThe economy was great \u2026 We had great everything. And I saw what was happening in Iran and I said, \u2018I hate to make this excursion, but we\u2019re going to have to do it.’\u201d<\/p>\n The surge could hurt Republicans\u2019 chances of defending their slim \u200bmajorities in Congress in this \u200byear\u2019s midterm elections. Respondents \u2060to the poll said that the cost of living would be the top issue influencing their vote in November.<\/p>\n DISAPPROVAL ON COST OF LIVING<\/strong><\/p>\n Some 63% of Americans disapprove of Trump\u2019s handling of \u200bthe cost of living in the U.S., up from 41% shortly after he returned to \u200bthe White House. \u2060His approval rate on the issue, at 29%, has fallen from 35% in the first days of his administration.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s polling on the cost of living has been a persistent vulnerability since he returned to the White House, as he has enacted steep tariffs \u2060on imports \u200bthat have increased prices of consumer goods.<\/p>\n Only 35% of respondents in the \u200bpoll said Trump was doing a good job on the U.S. economy.<\/p>\n The survey, which was conducted online, gathered responses from 1,545 U.S. adults nationwide and had \u200ba margin of error of about 3 percentage points.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n