Diesel fuel prices hit an all-time high six months into Trump’s Iran War, surpassing the previous record set during the Russia-Ukraine war
Rising diesel costs are pushing up prices for groceries, shipping, air travel and school transportation nationwide
The surge adds to an inflation rate that has climbed under the Trump regime, with energy costs a key driver
Diesel fuel prices hit an all-time high Friday, six months after the Trump regime launched its war against Iran, as shipping disruptions continued to push costs higher nationwide.
Diesel surged to $5.85 per gallon on Sept. 4, the Associated Press reported. Diesel is used widely in freight and delivery, and the higher prices have translated into higher transportation costs, adding to the country’s affordability crisis.
Directly before Trump launched attacks on Iran, triggering the war’s start, diesel fuel cost $3.73 per gallon. That’s a 57% increase in the last six months.
Since the war began, Iran has taken control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s fuel shipments pass, constraining shipments for months.
The previous record for diesel prices was $5.82 per gallon, set June 19, 2022, following global fuel shocks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began that February. Prices fell back to more typical levels in the months that followed. Unlike that spike, which followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the current record follows a war launched by the United States.
The difference between 2022 and 2026 was one war was started by Russian President Vladimir Putin, while the other was started by President Trump.
Impacts on inflation from the surge in diesel cost will spread out through the economy, NPR reported. Diesel powers farm equipment, so growing food is becoming more expensive, pushing up grocery costs. Diesel also fuels trucks and freighters, raising shipping costs for consumer goods, and planes, keeping airfares elevated. About 90% of the nation’s school buses run on diesel, adding pressure to municipal education budgets.
Inflation, which has increased under the Trump regime, won’t be settling back down anytime soon. Inflation was up 3.4% year-over-year as of August, with energy prices driving much of that increase. That’s having a significant impact on household budgets.
Even if the Iran War ended and the Strait reopened to resume global fuel shipments, pressure on fuel markets would likely continue. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has continued to disrupt fuel markets as the two countries trade attacks on oil infrastructure, and autumn harvests and winter heating oil demand are expected to keep prices elevated.
By Joe O’Leary
