Under Middle East tensions, California diesel prices hit a new high

Influenced by factors including the Middle East situation, diesel prices in California, the United States hit a record high. According to the latest data from the American Automobile Association, the average diesel price in California rose on the 24th to $7.02 per gallon. The data show that the national average diesel price in the United States is about $5.34 per gallon, which is also at a relatively high level in recent years. The national average gasoline price is about $3.98 per gallon, up further from the past few days. U.S. media reported that, in recent times, affected by the Middle East situation, global energy shipments have been disrupted, diesel futures prices have surged significantly, and at the same time California’s refining capacity has declined, driving local diesel prices to keep climbing. Since October 2025, two refineries in California have already shut down, and refining capacity has fallen by about 20%. Industry insiders noted that rising diesel prices will increase transportation costs and may further affect the prices of items such as food, construction materials, and retail goods. (Xinhua News Agency)