Retail diesel prices in the US broke through $6.50 per gallon for the first time, continuing the war-driven rise, which is affecting the overall economy. As of Saturday, the national average oil price had risen to $6.505 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. This increase accelerated in September — it has risen more than 87 cents so far this month — and prices have risen almost every day, breaking through the peak set in 2022. As a result of the US-Iran conflict, the global supply of this important fuel has been continuously squeezed, and transportation volume through the critical Strait of Hormuz is still limited. Meanwhile, crude oil shipments in the region have yet to fully return to pre-war levels, which limits fuel production at refineries in other parts of the world. Furthermore, Russia has banned most fuel exports and may extend this restriction until October, while Ukrainian drone attacks continue to hit the country's refineries. Over the weekend, the Moscow refinery was hit by a round of attacks, part of the largest heavy nighttime bombing of the year. Most American drivers won't fuel their cars with diesel. But this fuel, which is used in trucks, agricultural machinery, generators, boats, trains, and home heating systems, covers almost every sector of the economy. As the midterm elections approach, record diesel prices could weaken the support received by US President Donald Trump's Republican Party in agricultural states such as Iowa, and states that rely on fuel for household heating, such as Maine. Still, truckers and consumers can be a little relieved, although they may not be aware of it. According to the Institute for Progress, a Washington-based think tank, the current price is still below the 2022 peak after adjusting for inflation.

Retail diesel prices in the US broke through $6.50 per gallon for the first time, continuing the war-driven rise, which is affecting the overall economy. As of Saturday, the national average oil price had risen to $6.505 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. This increase accelerated in September — it has risen more than 87 cents so far this month — and prices have risen almost every day, breaking through the peak set in 2022. As a result of the US-Iran conflict, the global supply of this important fuel has been continuously squeezed, and transportation volume through the critical Strait of Hormuz is still limited. Meanwhile, crude oil shipments in the region have yet to fully return to pre-war levels, which limits fuel production at refineries in other parts of the world. Furthermore, Russia has banned most fuel exports and may extend this restriction until October, while Ukrainian drone attacks continue to hit the country's refineries. Over the weekend, the Moscow refinery was hit by a round of attacks, part of the largest heavy nighttime bombing of the year. Most American drivers won't fuel their cars with diesel. But this fuel, which is used in trucks, agricultural machinery, generators, boats, trains, and home heating systems, covers almost every sector of the economy. As the midterm elections approach, record diesel prices could weaken the support received by US President Donald Trump's Republican Party in agricultural states such as Iowa, and states that rely on fuel for household heating, such as Maine. Still, truckers and consumers can be a little relieved, although they may not be aware of it. According to the Institute for Progress, a Washington-based think tank, the current price is still below the 2022 peak after adjusting for inflation.