By MobiusDaXter - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15326204
WASHINGTON — Inflationary pressures are beginning to mount in the United States as diesel prices climb to a record high, raising transportation and supply chain costs across the economy.
GasBuddy says the national average price for diesel reached US$5.85 per gallon on Friday, surpassing the previous record of US$5.82 set in June 2022.
The price has risen by more than US$2 per gallon over the past year. Diesel averaged US$3.70 per gallon in September 2025.
Unlike gasoline, which is primarily felt by consumers at the pump, higher diesel prices can filter through much of the economy because the fuel is widely used by freight trucks, trains, agricultural equipment and construction machinery.
Rising transportation costs can in turn put upward pressure on the prices of groceries, household goods, deliveries and other products.
“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.
“Higher diesel prices impact consumers as rising supply chain costs increase the price of groceries, household goods, deliveries, and countless other products Americans rely on every day.”
GasBuddy attributed the sharp increase in fuel prices in recent months to geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global energy markets.
The company said higher oil prices, reduced refining capacity outside the United States and tight global inventories have contributed to rising diesel and gasoline prices.
The new diesel record comes as businesses face the prospect of absorbing higher transportation costs or passing some of those increases on to consumers.
GasBuddy says its fuel price data is supported by reports from hundreds of thousands of drivers, with more than 515,000 unique users submitting prices in August alone.
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