Fuel prices hit record high as diesel tops $6 a gallon 

Both diesel and regular gasoline prices rose again for the week ending September 14 with diesel now averaging more than $6 a gallon nationally for the first time, according to new data released today, September 15, 2026, by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

President Trump campaigned on lowering energy prices for Americans, but he is now seeing a historic price rise, in part due to the Iran war and continuing conflict in Ukraine. 

Diesel: National average jumps above $6 a gallon 

The national average price for on-highway diesel jumped to $6.285 per gallon, up from $5.967 the week before — a weekly increase of 31.8 cents. That’s on top of last week’s 37-cent jump, meaning diesel has risen roughly 69 cents in just two weeks. 

Diesel is now up $2.546 per gallon (68 percent) compared to a year ago, and $2.759 higher than two years ago. 

Regional detail shows the increase was broad-based, and some regions are now well into record territory: 

• California remains the most expensive market in the country, at $8.039/gallon, up 27.5 cents on the week and now more than $3 higher than two years ago. 

• West Coast (PADD 5) overall reached $7.25/gallon, up 26.3 cents. 

• Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) posted the sharpest weekly jump of any broad region, up 49.1 cents to $6.096. 

• East Coast (PADD 1) rose 41.4 cents to $6.158. 

• Midwest (PADD 2) climbed 30.4 cents to $6.250. 

• Even the “cheapest” broad region, the Gulf Coast (PADD 3), is now at $6.027/gallon, up 27.3 cents on the week, meaning every U.S. region now averages above $6 a gallon for diesel. 

Regular Gasoline: Also climbing, now above $4.30 nationally 

Regular gasoline continued its rise as well, though at a somewhat smaller dollar pace than diesel. The national average reached $4.319 per gallon, up 16.2 cents from the prior week’s $4.157. Year-over-year, gasoline is up $1.151 (36 percent), and two-year-ago prices were $1.139 lower. 

Diesel is more exposed to refining and distribution costs than gasoline, which helps explain why it’s climbing faster.  

EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook, also released this month, points to low distillate (diesel) inventories as a key driver. Inventories are forecast to keep falling as refineries enter fall maintenance season just as harvest-season demand for diesel rises, a seasonal squeeze that historically pushes diesel prices up disproportionately in autumn and winter.