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Diesel Prices · Inflation · Supply Chain · Trucking
Diesel prices surged to $5.19 per gallon, marking a 28% increase in recent weeks, severely impacting truckers and construction workers in Cheektowaga, N.Y., who report significant operational cost increases and warn of impending higher prices for consumers across the economy.
This rapid rise represents the largest jump since 2022, when prices peaked at $5.81 per gallon. Matt Darlak, a construction worker, stated that $100 no longer fills his tank, describing the increase as "extreme...very quickly." A local trucker named Makiah reported his boss is enforcing strict fuel conservation, with his daily fuel costs averaging $150.
The article notes one pump at Jim's Truck Plaza registered over $300 for a single fill-up. Mike Perkins, another trucker, explained that transportation companies offset these costs by implementing fuel surcharges, passing the burden directly to their customers.
Perkins attributed the sustained high prices to unresolved issues with shipping lanes in the Middle East, which restrict oil flow. Darlak warned that if prices continue this trajectory, "Things are going to get so expensive...where no one is going to be able to afford things," indicating a severe broader economic impact.
