Roundup: U.S. retail sales surge as higher gas prices rise amid Iran war

Economists contend that if the conflict continues, energy prices will rise further, putting a dent in the wallets of Americans who depend on their personal vehicles as their main means of transportation. WASHINGTON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A hike in the cost of gas due to the conflict in Iran, now in its second month, caused a hefty 1. 7 percent increase in U.