Filled up your tank recently? If you happen to drive—or sit in the passenger seat—you’ve probably noticed something: gas prices are kind of out of control.

In Massachusetts right now, the average price for a gallon of gas is hovering around $3.90, and in Boston it’s been even higher, getting to around $4.30 per gallon this spring. That might not sound shocking for the non-drivers out there, but let’s put it into perspective. Just a year ago, gas in Massachusetts was closer to $3.07 per gallon. That’s roughly a 25-30% increase in a year for the exact same thing. And we’re kind of lucky, being on the East Coast, because in California, these prices have shot up to as high as $6 per gallon.

But what’s going on? Why have gas prices skyrocketed? They aren’t just about your local Mobil—they’re about the entire world and the state it’s in.

Gasoline prices are driven mainly by the price of oil, and oil is a global commodity. In fact, according to the American Petroleum Institute, about half the price you pay at a pump comes directly from crude oil costs. That means events happening thousands of miles away such as wars, political tensions and production cuts can directly affect the price to fill up your tank in Cambridge.

Right now, one of the biggest reasons for rising prices is the ongoing tensions involving Iran, which have disrupted global oil supply, pushing prices upward. Economists warn that these effects could linger. As Moody’s economist Mark Zandi put it, “the damage has already been done… there’s no going back on oil prices.”

And it’s not just conflict. Gas prices are affected by a combination of factors: supply, demand, refining costs, transportation and taxes.

But what does that actually mean for us students?

If you drive, the answer is clear. Gas gets expensive fast, and now, a typical tank might cost $50-$70. Multiply that number by the weekly driving to school, practice or Arsenal, and suddenly gas becomes one of your biggest living expenses. Because of it, people carpool more, skip the unnecessary trips and get stingier about rides. Studies even show that as gas prices rise, people drive less and rely more on public transit or walking.

Think about how literally anything gets to you. Food? Delivered by a truck? Clothes? Shipped across oceans. Amazon packages? Same story. Fuel is one of the biggest costs in transportation, so when gas prices rise, shopping costs rise with it. And when shipping costs rise, companies raise their prices to match. That’s why economists often say that gas prices are one of the most “visible” parts of inflation. People notice them immediately, and they affect how we feel about the economy overall.

And it goes even deeper. When people spend more on gas, they have less money for everything else. Economists call this a “shock” to consumer spending, but you don’t need to take AP Macro to understand it. If gas is eating up more of your budget, something else has to give.

This ripple effect that follows can hit businesses too. According to Howard Schneider, a three-time Pulitzer Prize judge, higher gas costs can pull money away from oher spending, which can eventually slow hiring and even investment. So, even if you’ve never driven a car in your life, gas prices are still majorly affecting your daily life in what you pay, what Butterbird charges for a chicken sandwich, and how the economy feels overall.

To be honest, there is no easy fix to it. Gas prices are inherently volatile because oil markets are very much global and unpredictable. A single conflict, natural disaster, or policy change can send prices swinging side to side overnight.

So what can a high school student at this school do? Realistically, almost nothing. You can carpool and avoid unnecessary joyrides. But beyond that, gas prices are mostly out of any individual’s control, besides maybe President Donald Trump.

So the next time gas jumps another 15 cents per gallon overnight, don’t get too angry. Recognize that it’s reflecting a complex global system. And unfortunately, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.