Diesel Prices Soar in Washington, Threatening Businesses

0:00Diesel prices in Washington have spiked way more than regular gas since the war in Iran disrupted global oil supplies late last month. The average now sits at $6.20 a gallon, up about $1.40, while gas is at $5.15 after A, 97% jump per AA data. Trucking firms and public transit are taking the biggest hit since diesel power's most commercial trucks, buses, and heavy equipment. One logistics owner, near Puyala, says his drivers are shelling out thousands extra per trip from Seattle to Portland, and customers won't cover it, forcing businesses to eat the costs or lose work. Meanwhile, Washington's diesel was already 30% above the national average before the war, thanks to state taxes totaling 62 cents a gallon nearly double the U.S. average. Add in the cap and trade system, and the burden grows even heavier for smaller operators already squeezed by past tariffs and pandemic issues. The real driver is crude oil prices, with the Brent benchmark leaping 57% from $68 to

1:06$107 a barrel since late February. Refiners pass it on quickly, and now truckers are turning down loads, parking rigs, or hunting for surcharges to stay afloat. Experts warn this could spark fair hikes, supply chain snarls, and even bankruptcies among small firms, as the Federal Reserve holds rates steady to. Fight fresh inflation fears. With no end to the conflict in sight, diesel users are bracing for prices to ripple through everyday costs across the board. From your city, powered by AI, this is Vancouver News Today, I'm Corey with the story.