Higher diesel costs trickle into groceries and online-order fees
The United States set a new record for diesel prices on Friday, with the national average reaching $5.85 per gallon for the first time, according to an Associated Press report by Wyatte Grantham-Philips. The benchmark reflects the continued strain from the six-month-old war with Iran on global fuel supplies.
Because diesel powers the trucks, trains, and boats that carry consumer goods such as clothing, cosmetics, and furniture, the record price signals upward pressure on a wide swath of costs — from grocery shelves and online-order fees to retail goods.
That pressure is already reaching consumers. Some businesses have begun passing on higher transportation costs as added fees on online orders and packages in the mail, AP reports. Shoppers may see further cost increases flow into retail prices as those costs work through supply chains.
The grocery aisle is among the most immediately affected, AP reports. Produce, meat, and other perishable foods are hauled in and restocked frequently, and are often harvested using diesel-powered farm equipment. Those effects can take time to fully materialize but are likely to mount the longer diesel remains expensive.
Experts warn that price hikes could keep mounting the longer diesel stays elevated, AP reports. With the war with Iran now in its sixth month, the supply disruption that has lifted diesel to its record level continues to trickle through the broader economy.