How high gas prices are rippling through Maine’s economy

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 3 2026

The numbers on gas station signs across the state are approaching a threshold Mainers hoped they’d never cross again. With regular gasoline now nudging $4 a gallon and diesel surging toward $6, the pain is no longer confined to the pumps. From the lobsterman in Stonington to the logger in the North Woods, the rising cost of crude — fueled by the ongoing war in Iran — is triggering a ripple effect that touches every corner of the Maine economy. When the cost of a mile goes up, so does the cost of a gallon of milk, the wood used to build our homes and the bait used to catch Maine lobster.