What the average US diesel price measures
The Energy Information Administration surveys truck stops and service stations every Monday for the retail price of on-highway diesel fuel, taxes included. The chart averages those weekly national prices by month, starting in 1994. Since 2006 the series reflects ultra-low sulfur diesel, the only kind sold for highway use. Prices are in current dollars.
How to read this chart
Diesel tracks crude oil like gasoline does, but it is more sensitive to global demand for distillate fuels – heating oil, jet fuel and industrial use – and to refinery capacity. Diesel usually costs more than gasoline, partly because the federal tax is 24.4 cents a gallon versus 18.4 for gasoline. Peaks often come in winter, when heating oil competes for the same barrels.
The latest reading in context
- At $6.25, the latest reading is above its 5-year average of $4.30 and above its 10-year average of $3.60.
- That is higher than 99% of all monthly readings since April 1994 – near the top of its historical range.
- Direction: down 0.6% over the past month; up 13.7% over the past six months; up 69.9% over the past year.
- The highest value on record is $6.29 (September 2026, this year); the lowest is $0.96 (February 1999, 27 years ago).
- The full history spans 3 US recessions, shaded grey on the chart.
Why it matters
Nearly all freight trucks, trains, farm equipment and construction machinery run on diesel, so its price feeds into the cost of moving and producing almost everything. A jump in diesel shows up later in food, retail and shipping prices, and in trucking company profits.
What moves the average US diesel price
- Crude oil prices
- Refinery capacity and outages
- Global demand for distillates, including heating oil and jet fuel
- Inventories in the Northeast before winter
- Federal and state fuel taxes
Key moments in its history
- Jul 2008Reached about $4.70 a gallon as oil topped $140 a barrel.
- 2016Fell to about $2 after the oil price collapse.
- Apr 2020Dropped as pandemic lockdowns cut freight demand.
- Jun 2022Set a record near $5.80 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted global fuel exports.
US Diesel Prices data tables
Average by decade
| Decade | Average | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s (so far) | $3.91 | $6.29 | $2.39 |
| 2010s | $3.25 | $4.13 | $2.00 |
| 2000s | $2.18 | $4.70 | $1.15 |
| 1990s | $1.14 | $1.32 | $0.96 |
Last 12 months
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | $6.25 | −0.6% |
| Sep 2026 | $6.29 | +15.2% |
| Aug 2026 | $5.46 | +10.2% |
| Jul 2026 | $4.96 | −1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | $5.02 | −10.3% |
| May 2026 | $5.60 | +1.8% |
| Apr 2026 | $5.50 | +11.8% |
| Mar 2026 | $4.92 | +32.2% |
| Feb 2026 | $3.72 | +5.6% |
| Jan 2026 | $3.52 | −2.5% |
| Dec 2025 | $3.62 | −5.4% |
| Nov 2025 | $3.82 | +3.9% |
Monthly values. Decade figures are averages of the monthly values in each decade. The complete history is available as a CSV file.
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US Diesel Prices: questions and answers
Why is diesel more expensive than gasoline?
Higher federal and state taxes, strong global demand for distillate fuels and the extra refining needed to make ultra-low sulfur diesel.
Is diesel included in the CPI?
Only the small amount households buy for their own vehicles. Most diesel is used by businesses, so it affects the CPI indirectly through freight and food costs.
Is this price adjusted for inflation?
No. It is the nominal retail price at the pump, including taxes.
Where does the data on this chart come from?
From the U.S. Energy Information Administration. ChartWidgets downloads the series (GASDESW) from FRED, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis database, and checks for new releases every day. The last update was on November 1, 2026.