The US national average of $6.05 is up from $5.85 last week and $3.70 from this time last year, according to motor club AAA.
Higher diesel prices mean more expensive transportation for a long list of everyday goods. That’s because diesel is used for many freight and delivery networks. And some businesses have already passed along steeper costs to consumers in the form of added fees on online orders and packages in the mail, the AP reported.
Shoppers may feel more and more sticker shock, particularly in the grocery aisle. Perishable foods, like meat and produce, face one of the most immediate strains of expensive diesel because they need to be hauled in and restocked frequently — or may be harvested using farm equipment powered by the fuel.
It can take time for those costs to trickle down. But the surge in diesel prices doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon.
Prices at the pump for diesel and regular gasoline — which hit $4.29 on average in the US Friday — closely follow that of crude oil. And oil has renewed its rise recently. This week, both Brent, the international standard, and US crude surpassed $100 a barrel for the first time in months.