U.S. diesel prices have broken through a historic threshold, hitting $6.00 per gallon for the first time ever, according to live GasBuddy data recorded on Thursday.
The national average diesel price climbed further to $6.05 per gallon by Friday, according to AAA’s tracker, marking the first time the figure has breached the $6 mark on that widely followed index.
The record came less than a week after diesel posted a previous all-time high of $5.85 per gallon, signaling an accelerating pace of price increases at the pump.
Diesel set fresh all-time highs in 28 states simultaneously, underscoring how broadly the price surge has spread across the country rather than being concentrated in any single region.
Crude oil remains the dominant driver of fuel prices, with benchmark futures climbing back above $100 a barrel amid intensifying conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
Brent crude settled at $107.63 a barrel on Thursday, while West Texas Intermediate futures closed at $102.48 a barrel, their highest levels since mid-May.
U.S. diesel prices have surged nearly 60% since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, a conflict that has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz carried roughly one-fifth of global oil supply, making the disruption one of the most consequential shocks to energy markets in recent memory.
The market has been squeezed further by Russia’s diesel export ban, imposed as several refineries remain idle following repeated Ukrainian drone attacks, while restrictions on Chinese fuel exports have also tightened global supply.
U.S. diesel inventories now stand 13% below their five-year average at 106.3 million barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration, leaving little cushion against further supply shocks.
The U.S. diesel crack spread, a key measure of refining margins, surged to a record high of $112.17 a barrel on Thursday, according to LSEG data, reflecting extraordinary pressure throughout the supply chain.
GasBuddy noted that “as diesel climbs, higher supply chain costs work their way into the price of groceries, household goods, deliveries, and countless other products families rely on every day, even for households that never fuel a diesel vehicle.”
GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan captured the broad economic reach of the surge on social media site X, stating, “Every truck, every delivery, every package, every grocery run just got more expensive.”
Industries dependent on diesel were already feeling significant financial strain before Thursday’s crude futures spike, with transportation and logistics companies facing mounting pressure on operating costs.
Oil prices dipped slightly on Friday but remained on course to finish the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since May, keeping the outlook for fuel prices elevated heading into the coming weeks.
