Diesel Prices Are Skyrocketing. Here’s Why

Diesel costs about $6.32 a gallon in the U.S., up more than 70% in a year. On October 9, 2026, the White House turned to Russia for help. In this video we look at why diesel got so tight, what the deal actually covers, how big it really is, and what supporters and critics say about it. Prices and figures are as of October 15, 2026. This story is moving fast, so check the sources below for the latest. Chapters 0:00 $6 diesel 0:45 Why diesel matters 1:22 The barrel problem 2:07 A global market 3:03 Two shocks in 2026 4:14 Why U.S. prices followed 5:24 The deal 6:54 How big is the deal? 8:14 Critics and defenders 9:45 What to watch Sources AAA, national average diesel and gasoline prices (Oct 13, 2026): https://gasprices.aaa.com/ U.S. EIA, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (regional diesel prices): https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/ U.S. EIA, Short-Term Energy Outlook, October 2026 (East Coast stocks and imports, price forecast): https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/rep... U.S. EIA, Refining crude oil (gallons per barrel): https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/o... U.S. EIA, Use of diesel fuel: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/d... U.S. EIA, Summer diesel margins tighten with European supply shift: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/det... IEA, Russian refining sector struggles amid intensifying Ukrainian attacks: https://www.iea.org/commentaries/russ... IEA analysis via Hydrocarbon Engineering, Why diesel prices are surging: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.co... The Moscow Times, diesel export ban extended to end of October: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/0... Kursiv, Russian diesel exports in 2025 (Kpler data): https://uz.kursiv.media/?p=2120197 U.S. Treasury OFAC, Russia-related General License 135 (diesel): https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-acti... Fortune, deal terms and the September sanctions law: https://fortune.com/2026/10/09/trump-... Reuters via AAP, deal volumes, U.S. diesel exports and analyst views: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/stor... TIME, responses from lawmakers and the administration: https://time.com/article/2026/10/12/r... Axios, Republican views and the export-ban decision: https://www.axios.com/2026/10/12/trum... NPR via OPB, the senators' letter and the President's response: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/1... Reuters via BNN Bloomberg, Kremlin envoy on the deal: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/... Raw to Retail follows energy and raw materials from the ground to your bill.