SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
MoneyNerd is your weekly shortcut to how the latest news and trends shape your financial life.
Free in your inbox every Friday:
- The week’s biggest money stories, decoded.
- Quick, actionable tips from actual humans (aka the Nerds).
- Curated personal finance and economic reporting, plus podcasts, videos and visual explainers.
See a sample of the latest edition below and click to subscribe.
Iran war: Gas price spikes, Wall Street jitters, stranded travelers
First off, let’s acknowledge what’s happening on the ground in the Middle East.
Since the United States and Israel launched a massive attack on Iran last Saturday, six U.S. service members have been killed, as have hundreds of Iranian civilians. Neighboring nations have been caught up in the fighting and the lives of millions have been upended. The war is projected to last weeks at least.
The immediate repercussions here at home, by contrast, are mostly pocketbook issues, but since that’s what MoneyNerd is all about, let’s dig in.
Fuel prices: So long, $3 gas
Pump prices for gasoline were stable through most of 2025, and just weeks ago the national average price dipped below $3 for a gallon of regular for the first time since 2022. Across the country, 40 states had prices below $3. Those prices are now quickly disappearing in the rear-view mirror.
As of Thursday, the national average for a gallon of regular is $3.25, rising 26 cents per gallon in less than a week, and now only 17 states have average prices under $3.
Gas prices, of course, are dependent largely on oil prices. Spot prices for a barrel of crude rose sharply after the first wave of attacks, as the movement of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz was virtually halted. None of that more-expensive oil has made it to market yet, so price hikes at gas stations are for the moment mostly “anticipatory” — station owners know they will soon pay more, so they’re building a cushion now.
What’s next for energy? Iran has absorbed widespread damage in multiple waves of attacks, but it is retaliating with drone and missile attacks across the region. In addition to paralyzing tanker traffic, Iran’s attacks are targeting ports and energy infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s biggest oil refinery closed after a drone attack. And it’s not just gasoline: The world’s biggest liquified natural gas facility, in Qatar, was also targeted and is closed, spiking the price of natural gas in Europe.
Oil prices, as I write, are above $79, up from $65 last week. If the conflict drags on in a way that continues to affect oil supplies, some energy experts say prices could climb to over $100 per barrel. Sustained prices of over $80, economists say, could reignite broader inflation and even spark global recession.
» Nerd out with us! Take our quick reader survey to help us give you a better, Nerdier experience.
Investing: Wall Street wobbles
The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed the 50,000 barrier for the first time last month, to much fanfare. As of the close of trading Thursday, the Dow sits under 48,000 and has given up all its gains for the year to date. Some of that money fleeing stocks is moving into commodities like oil. Stocks in a few industries, such as oil & gas companies and defense contractors, have risen on the news, while others — particularly travel stocks like airlines and cruise operators — have fallen.
- Tip: Subscribe to The Nerdy Investor, NerdWallet’s free investing newsletter.
Travel: Widespread disruption
The U.S-Israeli attacks, and Iran’s retaliatory strikes, have massively affected travel in the broader region, including major international hubs like Dubai and Doha. A State Department official, in a March 2 social media post, urged Americans “to DEPART NOW” from more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Thousands of travelers reportedly remain stranded in the region. Updated travel advisories can be found here.If your travel plans have been impacted, many airlines are offering airline waivers to affected travelers, allowing them to cancel for a full refund or make free changes to their itinerary. You'll generally see these waivers when you log onto airline websites to check your flight status. If your flight has been canceled, here's what to know.
Also in the March 6 edition of MoneyNerd:
- The new Apple MacBook Neo ($599!)
- AI product recommendations (Can you trust them?)
- Is there a new federal retirement plan? (🤷♀️)
- Money tips (and more!)
Enter your email to subscribe to MoneyNerd — it's free.
- You can also check out our archive.
- See all our NerdWallet newsletters.
Your MoneyNerd team: Courtney Neidel, Anna Helhoski, Rick VanderKnyff.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
