US diesel prices soar past $6 a gallon, deepening strain for hauling everyday goods

FILE - The price for diesel fuel is displayed on a pump at a gas station Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Dickson, Tenn. George Walker IV/AP hide caption

Diesel prices in the U.S. hit yet another record on Friday, soaring past $6 a gallon on average as Washington's war with Iran disrupts the world's flow of fuel.

The national average of $6.05 is up from $5.85 last week and $3.70 this time last year, according to motor club AAA.

Higher diesel prices mean more expensive transportation for a long list of everyday goods. That's because diesel is used for many freight and delivery networks. And some businesses have already passed along steeper costs to consumers in the form of added fees on online orders and packages in the mail.

Shoppers may feel more and more sticker shock, particularly in the grocery aisle. Perishable foods, like meat and produce, face one of the most immediate strains of expensive diesel because they need to be hauled in and restocked frequently — or may be harvested using farm equipment powered by the fuel.

It can take time for those costs to trickle down. But the surge in diesel prices doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon.

Prices at the pump for diesel and regular gasoline — which hit $4.29 on average in the U.S. Friday — closely follow that of crude oil. And oil has renewed its rise recently. This week, both Brent, the international standard, and U.S. crude surpassed $100 a barrel for the first time in months as fighting between the U.S. and Iran escalated again.

Political ramifications may pile up in the meantime. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly tried to downplay the effects of the Iran war, said that oil prices likely won't come down until after November's midterm elections.