MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin drivers saw a sharp overnight increase in gasoline prices Thursday, with the statewide average reaching $4.34 per gallon, according to AAA. Prices varied widely across Milwaukee. Regular gasoline at a BP station near Plankinton Avenue and St. Paul Avenue was listed at $4.99 per gallon. GasBuddy identified the station as the city’s most expensive, while a Speedway near Ninth and Lincoln avenues had the lowest reported price at $3.65 per gallon. The Milwaukee-Waukesha area average rose 25 cents since Wednesday, according to the report. Prices increased 22 cents in Racine County and 31 cents in Kenosha County. The spike comes as oil prices rise amid the war with Iran, putting added pressure on household budgets and transportation costs. Diesel at the downtown Milwaukee BP station was listed at $6.99 per gallon. Drivers interviewed near downtown said they had little ability to avoid the higher prices. Noel Guition said there was no real plan for adjusting to the increase beyond accepting the added cost. Kathryn Christian said she stopped at the downtown station because her vehicle had no miles left in its tank. She acknowledged that the location likely carried a premium but said she had no practical choice at the time. The more than $1 difference between the city’s reported highest and lowest prices underscores how much drivers can save by comparing stations before filling up. For people who must drive to work, school, medical appointments or caregiving responsibilities, however, shopping around is not always possible—and sudden fuel increases can hit hardest for households with the fewest transportation alternatives.