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The fuel most Americans rarely think about could become a major political issue in the midterm elections after diesel prices hit a new national record and climbed above $6 per gallon.
While gasoline prices grab headlines, diesel quietly powers the trucks, farms, freight trains and heavy equipment that keep the U.S. economy moving. From the groceries on supermarket shelves to Amazon packages on doorsteps and the materials used to build new homes, diesel is embedded in nearly every step of the supply chain.
As prices rise, businesses face higher transportation and operating costs that can ripple through the economy and push up the price of everyday goods.
Diesel averaged $3.69 per gallon in January 2025 but has since climbed to a record $6.20, according to AAA.
WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN
The price surge comes as the ongoing war between the United States and Iran continues to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway between Iran and Oman that carries a significant share of the world’s oil and refined fuel.
The prolonged disruption has tightened global supplies and raised concerns that diesel prices could remain elevated.
The pressure is not limited to the Middle East. Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure have disrupted refinery operations, while Russia has moved to restrict diesel exports, further tightening global supplies.
Those overlapping disruptions are putting new pressure on a fuel that economists say is essential to the broader U.S. economy.
“We all focus on gasoline because, ultimately, we’re consumers and pump prices are very visible. But what we don’t think about is the price of diesel, which is the workhorse fuel for the U.S. economy and especially for key sectors,” Bernard Yaros, lead U.S. economist for Oxford Economics, previously told Fox News Digital.
“Take the food industry, for instance. Diesel powers the irrigation pumps, the tractors in the field and the trucks that bring food from the farm to your local grocery store,” Yaros added. “It’s part of every layer of food production in the U.S.”
ONE UNEXPECTED PRICE SURGE MOST AMERICANS DON’T SEE IS RAISING THE STAKES FOR TRUMP BEFORE NOVEMBER
The price increases threaten to complicate the GOP’s affordability message as Republicans seek to maintain control of Congress in the November midterm elections.
Although diesel is not a cost most consumers see directly, higher fuel expenses can eventually raise the price of groceries, packages, building materials and other necessities.
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President Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged to lower energy costs but has acknowledged that elevated oil prices could persist until after the election, adding pressure to the GOP’s economic message.
The White House did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
