by Kevin Killough
Diesel prices hit record highs in the U.S. on Friday, rising to an average of $5.85 per gallon for the first time since the war in Iran started at the end of February.
Last September, the average price per gallon of diesel was $3.70, according to GasBuddy.
In California, which typically has some of the highest gas prices in the country, diesel prices were nearly $7.71 per gallon, according to AAA.
California’s diesel price is well above other states. Hawaii’s average diesel price is $7.00, the second-highest in America. Washington ranks third at $6.81.
These states have much higher average diesel prices than the states that round out the top five. Nevada and Oregon’s average diesel price is $6.17.
“Diesel is the fuel that moves the economy, and when diesel prices reach record levels, the impact extends far beyond the transportation sector,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
Prices for diesel are also higher than their peak following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when they hit an average of $5.82 per gallon in July 2022.
Because diesel powers freight and delivery networks, as well as agricultural machinery, the high costs of fuel will impact a long list of everyday goods. Food prices will be impacted immediately by rising shipping costs before the farmers’ rising expenses trickle down to the grocery store.
Some businesses have begun passing on the costs to consumers in the form of added fees for online orders and mail deliveries, the Associated Press reported.
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Kevin Killough is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
