Another report found the Iran war fueled a spike in diesel prices that proved costly for farmers.
Two recent reports show how the Iran war is driving up the cost of living in Virginia.
Virginians have spent an extra $1.8 billion on gasoline since the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28, according to a report from the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. That breaks down to an extra $573 per household.
The average price for a gallon of gas in Virginia was $3.97 on Tuesday, up from $2.99 a year ago, according to AAA.
Diesel costs for farmers have also gone up.
It cost Virginia farmers an average of $1,514 more to fill up a diesel fuel storage tank when diesel prices were at their peak in the spring than it did the same time a year ago, according to another report from the Joint Economic Committee. The report’s analysis looked at diesel used to plant corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice and didn’t take into account other ways farmers use diesel.
The report on diesel found that it cost an extra $202 on average to fill up a typical grain truck in Virginia and an extra $246 to fill up the typical tractor.
In a joint statement on Monday, Virginia US Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Democrats, blamed the Iran war for driving up costs for farmers.
“Our Commonwealth’s farmers are being squeezed from every direction as Trump’s war of choice drives up the cost of diesel at the same time they’re [struggling] with the strain of the president’s senseless tariffs,” said the senators. “Virginia’s farmers work tirelessly to keep our families fed, and they deserve leaders who will fight for commonsense policies to lower their expenses.”
As Virginians pay more at the pump, they’re also getting less help to pay for groceries.
Tens of thousands of low-income Virginians are no longer getting federal assistance to pay for groceries that have soared in price in recent years.
