Nearly six in ten U.S. adults expect gas prices to climb further over the next year, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 4,531 respondents released this week.
The survey found 58 percent of those questioned believe pump prices will worsen, a figure that tracks rising public anxiety about energy costs as the ongoing Iran war continues to rattle global oil markets.
Energy prices have moved sharply in recent months as the conflict disrupts shipping lanes and strains regional supply chains, putting sustained upward pressure on crude benchmarks.
The Reuters/Ipsos result reflects a public largely unconvinced that relief is near. Respondents cut across party lines in their pessimism, the survey showed.
Congress has not scheduled floor action on any fuel-price relief measure. The White House has not announced new releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The next Reuters/Ipsos energy-sentiment survey is expected to track conditions through the summer driving season.