Diesel prices hit record high above $6.50 a gallon, AAA says
The record comes as Brent crude rises after a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia's capital reverses a week of declines
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Chart: USO, a fund that tracks crude, daily closes since Sep 2023
UpdateMonday, September 21, 2026 at 3:35 PM ET
AAA's data also points to widening refining margins and tight product supplies as the main drivers behind the diesel increase, even as WTI crude falls below $100 a barrel. Some retailers are limiting purchases amid low inventories. A continued drop in crude prices could ease diesel costs, but only if the shortages of refined products persist as a constraint on supply.
U.S. diesel prices have climbed to a record high above $6.50 a gallon, according to AAA.
The record follows a volatile week for crude. Brent crude rose 1% on Sunday after a Houthi attack on the Saudi capital, reversing a week of declines that had come as Saudi Arabia repaired a damaged pipeline and Oman mediated truce talks. Days earlier, on Thursday, Brent had fallen to a one-week low as those pipeline repairs advanced.
Oil is up more than 70% this year as of Thursday, with new U.S. tariffs on buyers of Russian oil among the risks that could push prices higher again. Saudi Arabia said Thursday it had moved to restore about half of its east-west pipeline capacity within days, with full restoration expected to take six weeks.
The move to $6.50 continues a steady climb from $6 and from earlier record highs, and reflects ongoing supply constraints rather than a fresh deterioration. For traders, sustained high diesel costs keep pressure on freight and logistics margins, though that dynamic is already priced into the market.