Investor Ross Gerber is not happy about what he's paying at the pump. On Tuesday, he took to social media to vent about surging energy costs as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate, with missile strikes being exchanged in the Middle East.

Time For Change in the U.S., Ross Gerber Says

Gerber, co-founder of Gerber Kawasaki, posted on X that "Gas prices back to the high." He noted that the station he tracks in California is now charging $6.30 a gallon, up from $5 before the war. "It's time for change in America," he added.

This isn't the first time Gerber has pointed to fuel costs as a reason to consider alternatives. He's previously touted electric vehicles as "wonderful alternatives" for consumers facing rising fuel prices and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz.

Gas Price Moves Higher

Gerber's frustration is backed by data. GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan flagged a sharp single-day increase in U.S. gas prices. "The national average price of *gasoline* has risen 9.6c/gal so far today, the biggest one-day jump since April 30," De Haan said on X. He also noted that the largest single-day rise in 2026 was 12.1 cents per gallon on March 3.

De Haan also pointed to U.S. refineries running at full tilt. "U.S. refinery utilization this year is now running at the highest rate this century - 93.4% so far," he said, adding that this pace is the highest in 27 years. He suggested that pressure on global refiners could push the number even higher by year-end, noting that summer's average was 96.6%, the third highest summer ever.

Gas, Oil Prices

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price of gas on Tuesday was $4.1514 per gallon. In California, the average was $5.8658 per gallon.

On the oil front, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for October were trading at $94.26 at press time. Brent crude futures for November were at $99.44.

With geopolitical tensions showing no signs of cooling, and refineries already stretched, drivers and investors alike are bracing for what comes next.