Diesel prices reach record $5.85 a gallon, raising cost worries for food and goods

U.S. diesel prices have reached a record national average of $5.85 per gallon, with prices exceeding $6 in Pennsylvania and nearing record levels in South Dakota. The surge is raising operating costs for trucking, delivery, farming, construction, rail and maritime businesses, increasing the likelihood of higher prices for groceries, packages and other consumer goods. Perishable foods face particular pressure because they depend on diesel-powered farm equipment and refrigerated transportation. While reports link the latest increases to disruptions and tighter supplies associated with the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, the broader refining market is also a major factor: crude prices are well below their wartime peak, but limited refinery capacity and depleted diesel inventories have pushed refining margins sharply higher. Gasoline prices have risen as well, though less dramatically, adding to pressure on household budgets and potentially becoming a political issue in the midterm elections.