Trump Falsely Claims $2 Gas and 1.6% Inflation Before Iran War as Prices Jump to 3.8%
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 20
Trump Falsely Claims $2 Gas and 1.6% Inflation Before Iran War as Prices Jump to 3.8%
7 articles · Updated · CNN · May 20
Trump again claimed pre-war inflation was 1.6%-1.7% and gasoline was under $2 in many places, even as the Iran war's price surge has fueled public anger.
CPI data show inflation was 2.7% in November and December 2025, 2.4% in January and February 2026, then rose to 3.3% in March and 3.8% in April.
Overall prices were not falling before the war: average consumer prices were up 2.9% through February since January 2025 and 4.8% through April.
AAA put regular gas at $2.98 nationally on Feb. 28, with no state below $2.47; GasBuddy found only four of roughly 150,000 stations under $2 on Feb. 24.
Gas has since climbed to $4.56 a gallon nationally and $4.28 in Iowa, underscoring how the war-driven energy shock has widened the gap between Trump's claims and household costs.
With global oil inventories depleting, how will the world economy withstand this unprecedented energy supply shock?
How will the largest oil market disruption in history reshape the future of global energy security and international trade routes?
As the conflict cripples supply chains, can humanitarian aid prevent a global food crisis for millions now facing starvation?