**Diesel prices hit record highs as summer travel demand and refinery outages bite**
Diesel prices have surged to record highs in the United States, driven by a surge in summer travel demand and a number of refinery outages.
The national average price for a gallon of diesel fuel reached $5.51 on Wednesday, according to AAA. That’s up from $5.24 a week earlier and $3.29 a year ago.
The price of diesel is typically higher than gasoline, but the gap between the two has widened in recent months. That’s because diesel is used to power trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles, which are in high demand during the summer travel season.
The surge in demand has been compounded by a number of refinery outages. In recent weeks, refineries in California, Texas, and Louisiana have all experienced unplanned outages, which have reduced the supply of diesel fuel.
The combination of high demand and low supply has pushed diesel prices to record highs. And with the summer travel season still in full swing, there’s no relief in sight.
**What does this mean for consumers?**
The high cost of diesel is likely to have a ripple effect on consumers. Higher diesel prices will lead to higher transportation costs, which will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services.
Diesel is also used to heat homes and businesses, so the high prices could also lead to higher heating bills this winter.
**What’s being done to address the issue?**
The Biden administration has taken a number of steps to address the high cost of diesel, including releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and increasing biofuel production.
However, it’s unclear whether these measures will be enough to bring down diesel prices in the short term.
**What can consumers do?**
There are a few things consumers can do to reduce the impact of high diesel prices:
* Conserve fuel by driving less and combining errands.
* Consider using public transportation or carpooling.
* Shop around for the best fuel prices.
* Consider buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
The high cost of diesel is a major challenge for consumers, but there are a number of things that can be done to mitigate its impact. By conserving fuel and shopping around for the best prices, consumers can help to reduce the financial burden of high diesel prices..
