Diesel Prices Jump Another 31.8 Cents Nationwide

U.S. Diesel Prices continued their sharp climb this week, adding another 31.8 cents per gallon as fuel costs put additional pressure on truck drivers and motor carriers.

The national average price for on-highway diesel reached $6.285 per gallon on Sept. 14, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That was up from $5.967 one week earlier and $5.599 on Aug. 31.

The latest increase means the national average has climbed nearly 69 cents in just two weeks.

Diesel is also considerably more expensive than it was at this time last year. The national average is now $2.546 per gallon higher than a year ago and $2.759 higher than two years ago.

Diesel Prices Rise Across Every U.S. Region

Every major region tracked by the EIA recorded another increase this week.

The East Coast saw the largest regional jump, rising 41.4 cents to $6.158 per gallon. Within that region, the Lower Atlantic recorded an even larger 49.1-cent increase, bringing its average to $6.096.

Other regional averages were:

• East Coast: $6.158, up 41.4 cents
• Midwest: $6.250, up 30.4 cents
• Gulf Coast: $6.027, up 27.3 cents
• Rocky Mountain: $6.066, up 26.1 cents
• West Coast: $7.250, up 26.3 cents
• West Coast excluding California: $6.566, up 25.2 cents

The Gulf Coast remained the least expensive major region tracked by EIA. However, its $6.027 average means every major region is now above $6 per gallon.

California Diesel Moves Above $8 Per Gallon

California continued to post the highest diesel average in the EIA report.

The state’s average reached $8.039 per gallon, up 27.5 cents from $7.764 the previous week. California diesel is now $3.068 per gallon more expensive than it was one year ago.

The West Coast as a whole averaged $7.250 per gallon.

The gap between regions can make fuel planning increasingly important for long-haul operations. Even outside California, EIA’s regional averages now range from just over $6 to more than $7 per gallon.

Two Weeks Bring a Sharp Increase in Diesel Prices

The latest increase follows another major jump during the previous reporting period.

The national diesel average stood at $5.599 on Aug. 31. It increased 36.8 cents to $5.967 on Sept. 7 before adding another 31.8 cents this week.

That represents a 68.6-cent increase in two weeks.

For a truck taking on 100 gallons, a 68.6-cent increase translates to about $68.60 more for the same amount of fuel compared with the Aug. 31 national average.

The impact can become much larger for trucks covering thousands of miles each week. Fuel surcharges can help offset some of those costs depending on the freight contract, but sudden price movements can still affect operating expenses and cash flow.

Oil Supply Concerns Continue to Pressure Fuel Markets

The rise in Diesel Prices comes as global crude oil and refined fuel markets face continued supply concerns.

Oil prices have recently moved back above $100 per barrel amid disruptions and concerns involving Middle Eastern oil infrastructure and shipping routes. Additional pressure has come from attacks affecting Russian refining capacity.

Those developments matter for diesel because crude oil prices are a major component of the cost of producing transportation fuels. But crude is not the only factor currently affecting diesel.

Global supplies of diesel and other distillate fuels have also tightened. Reduced refinery output and disruptions to fuel exports have added pressure to wholesale diesel markets.

U.S. diesel inventories have also remained tight compared with historical levels, leaving the market more exposed to supply disruptions and sudden changes in demand.

EIA Expects Distillate Inventories to Remain Low

The EIA’s September Short-Term Energy Outlook points to continued pressure on distillate supplies.

The agency forecasts U.S. inventories of distillate fuel oil, which includes diesel, to fall below 100 million barrels in September. EIA expects inventories to remain below the five-year low through the end of 2026 and for much of 2027.

The agency also expects global oil inventories to continue declining during the second half of 2026 because of disruptions to crude production and trade.

EIA forecasts Brent crude oil to average around $90 per barrel during the second half of 2026. However, short-term prices may move significantly above or below that forecast as conditions affecting global oil flows change.

Recent market trading has already demonstrated that volatility. Oil prices have moved sharply as traders react to developments involving Saudi Arabia, Libya, Russia, Ukraine, and Middle Eastern shipping routes.

What Higher Diesel Prices Mean for Trucking

Fuel remains one of the largest operating expenses in trucking, making rapid price increases especially important for owner-operators and small fleets.

At the current national average of $6.285 per gallon, purchasing 150 gallons would cost about $943, before considering discounts or other pricing arrangements.

At the Aug. 31 average of $5.599, the same 150 gallons would have cost about $840. That is a difference of roughly $103 per fill-up in only two weeks.

The effect will vary considerably depending on routes, fuel efficiency, negotiated fuel discounts, and fuel surcharge agreements.

For now, the latest EIA numbers show that the recent increase has not reversed. Diesel Prices rose again across every major U.S. region, while continued uncertainty in global oil and refined fuel supplies could keep the market volatile in the weeks ahead.