Recent political instability has caused a significant increase in national gasoline prices. Consequently, there has been a noticeable drop in non-essential travel and a change in how households prioritize their spending.

近期政治不穩定導致全國汽油價格大幅上升。因此，非必要旅行明顯減少，家庭在安排消費優先順序方面也有所改變。

The current economic instability is mainly due to the start of conflicts involving Iran on February 28, which coincided with a 34% increase in average national fuel costs. According to estimates from Brown University, this surge has cost American consumers approximately $33 billion. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that the national average reached $4.63 per gallon during the week of May 11, which is one of the highest weekly rates in ten years. However, prices vary by region; while Indiana has remained relatively stable, states such as Wyoming, Utah, and Wisconsin have seen prices rise by more than 50%.

目前的經濟不穩定主因於 2 月 28 日開始涉及伊朗的衝突，當時全國平均燃料成本正好上升了 34%。根據布朗大學的估計，此次飆升使美國消費者損失約 330 億美元。美國能源資訊局的數據顯示，在 5 月 11 日當週，全國平均價格達到每加侖 4.63 美元，是十年來最高的週價格之一。然而，價格因地區而異；印第安納州保持相對穩定，但懷俄明州、猶他州和威斯康辛州的價格則上升了 50% 以上。

This financial pressure has forced consumers to change their behavior. Placer.ai reports a 5% decline in gas station visits during May 2026 compared to the previous year. Furthermore, data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York suggests that people are spending less on vacations and electronics to pay for utilities and transportation. In New Jersey, a study of 3,002 families by RV Windshield Replacement.com found that fuel now accounts for 67% of road trip expenses. The study emphasized that if prices rose by another $1.11 per gallon, many families would cancel their travel plans entirely.

這種財務壓力迫使消費者改變行為。Placer.ai 報告指出，2026 年 5 月加油站的造訪人數較前一年下降了 5%。此外，紐約聯儲銀行的數據顯示，人們減少在假期和電子產品上的支出，以支付水電費和交通費。在紐澤西州，RV Windshield Replacement.com 對 3,002 個家庭的研究發現，燃料目前佔公路旅行費用的 67%。研究強調，如果價格每加侖再上升 1.11 美元，許多家庭將完全取消旅行計劃。

As a result, there is a clear trend toward planning shorter trips to save money. For example, travelers are prioritizing trips within their own state and reducing the number of overnight stays. In New Jersey, popular low-cost routes include trips from Newark to Cape May and from Hoboken to the Delaware Water Gap. These routes are popular because they rely on free outdoor attractions and shorter distances, which allows families to continue vacationing despite the high cost of fuel.

因此，出現了明顯傾向於規劃短途旅行以節省金錢的趨勢。例如，旅客優先選擇州內旅行並減少過夜次數。在紐澤西州，受歡迎的低成本路線包括從紐華克到開普梅，以及從霍博肯到特拉華水隙。這些路線之所以受歡迎，是因為它們依賴免費的戶外景點且距離較短，使家庭在燃料成本高昂的情況下仍能繼續度假。

The combination of international conflict and high energy prices has forced U.S. consumers to adopt simpler and more local travel habits.

國際衝突與高能源價格的結合，迫使美國消費者採取更簡單且更本地化的旅遊習慣。