U.S. Diesel Prices Rise 17.7% in Six Weeks
U.S. diesel prices experienced a significant increase between July 1 and August 25, 2026, with pricing moving higher across nearly every state analyzed.
Based on our state-level diesel pricing data, the calculated average across 50 U.S. states increased from $4.742 per gallon on July 1 to $5.583 per gallon on August 25.
That represents:
- +$0.841 per gallon
- +17.7% increase
- Six weeks of significant upward movement
However, the national average only tells part of the story.
Looking at diesel prices by state reveals substantial differences in how quickly fuel prices moved across individual markets. While some states experienced increases of more than 20%, others saw much more moderate changes. One market even recorded a slight decline.
This makes state-level diesel price analysis particularly useful for understanding where fuel cost pressure is building fastest.
This analysis examines diesel price movement across four regions:
- Midwest
- Northeast
- South
- West
Midwest Diesel Prices
The Midwest showed broad-based increases between July 1 and August 25, with all 12 states in our dataset recording higher diesel prices.
| State | Jul. 1 | Aug. 25 | Change | % Change |
| Iowa (IA) | $4.353 | $5.423 | +$1.070 | +24.6% |
| Illinois (IL) | $4.860 | $5.604 | +$0.744 | +15.3% |
| Indiana (IN) | $4.934 | $5.615 | +$0.681 | +13.8% |
| Kansas (KS) | $4.320 | $5.233 | +$0.913 | +21.1% |
| Michigan (MI) | $4.964 | $5.734 | +$0.770 | +15.5% |
| Minnesota (MN) | $4.572 | $5.609 | +$1.037 | +22.7% |
| Missouri (MO) | $4.364 | $5.257 | +$0.893 | +20.5% |
| North Dakota (ND) | $4.342 | $5.283 | +$0.941 | +21.7% |
| Nebraska (NE) | $4.293 | $5.333 | +$1.040 | +24.2% |
| Ohio (OH) | $4.859 | $5.750 | +$0.891 | +18.3% |
| South Dakota (SD) | $4.268 | $5.350 | +$1.082 | +25.4% |
| Wisconsin (WI) | $4.635 | $5.313 | +$0.678 | +14.6% |
Midwest Diesel Price Highlights
South Dakota (SD) recorded the largest increase in the Midwest at 25.4%, followed by Iowa (IA) at 24.6% and Nebraska (NE) at 24.2%.
The movement was relatively broad across the region, with several Midwest states recording increases above 20%.
For businesses operating regional fleets or fuel-intensive operations across the Midwest, these differences demonstrate why tracking individual state markets can provide more useful information than relying solely on a regional or national average.
Northeast Diesel Prices
The Northeast experienced significant variation in diesel price movement between July 1 and August 25.
| State | Jul. 1 | Aug. 25 | Change | % Change |
| Connecticut (CT) | $5.221 | $5.645 | +$0.424 | +8.1% |
| Delaware (DE) | $4.694 | $5.791 | +$1.097 | +23.4% |
| Massachusetts (MA) | $5.241 | $5.590 | +$0.349 | +6.7% |
| Maryland (MD) | $4.609 | $5.785 | +$1.176 | +25.5% |
| Maine (ME) | $5.268 | $5.614 | +$0.346 | +6.6% |
| New Hampshire (NH) | $5.163 | $5.529 | +$0.366 | +7.1% |
| New Jersey (NJ) | $4.837 | $5.839 | +$1.002 | +20.7% |
| New York (NY) | $5.377 | $5.652 | +$0.275 | +5.1% |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | $3.383 | $5.957 | +$2.574 | +76.1% |
| Rhode Island (RI) | $5.099 | $5.646 | +$0.547 | +10.7% |
| Vermont (VT) | $5.103 | $5.379 | +$0.276 | +5.4% |
Northeast Diesel Price Highlights
Pennsylvania (PA) was the clear outlier, with diesel prices increasing 76.1%, from $3.383 to $5.957 per gallon.
Maryland and Delaware also recorded strong increases of 25.5% and 23.4%, respectively.
At the other end of the range, New York (NY) recorded a comparatively modest 5.1% increase.
The Pennsylvania result is particularly notable because its July 1 starting price was significantly lower than most other Northeast markets. This illustrates why percentage change should be evaluated alongside the underlying price level.
South Diesel Prices
The South showed some of the strongest and most consistent upward movement in the six-week diesel price analysis.
| State | Jul. 1 | Aug. 25 | Change | % Change |
| Alabama (AL) | $4.359 | $5.374 | +$1.015 | +23.3% |
| Arkansas (AR) | $4.297 | $5.296 | +$0.999 | +23.3% |
| Florida (FL) | $4.471 | $5.430 | +$0.959 | +21.5% |
| Georgia (GA) | $4.468 | $5.414 | +$0.946 | +21.2% |
| Kentucky (KY) | $4.395 | $5.190 | +$0.795 | +18.1% |
| Louisiana (LA) | $4.252 | $5.269 | +$1.017 | +23.9% |
| Mississippi (MS) | $4.209 | $5.315 | +$1.106 | +26.3% |
| North Carolina (NC) | $4.527 | $5.510 | +$0.983 | +21.7% |
| Oklahoma (OK) | $4.073 | $5.165 | +$1.092 | +26.8% |
| South Carolina (SC) | $4.442 | $5.394 | +$0.952 | +21.4% |
| Tennessee (TN) | $4.357 | $5.266 | +$0.909 | +20.9% |
| Texas (TX) | $4.182 | $5.239 | +$1.057 | +25.3% |
| Virginia (VA) | $4.713 | $5.754 | +$1.041 | +22.1% |
| West Virginia (WV) | $4.608 | $5.387 | +$0.779 | +16.9% |
South Diesel Price Highlights
Oklahoma (OK) recorded the highest increase in the South at 26.8%, followed by Mississippi (MS) at 26.3% and Texas (TX) at 25.3%.
The South stands out because a large number of states recorded increases above 20%, indicating relatively broad-based upward movement across the region.
For businesses with significant fuel exposure across Southern markets, monitoring state-level diesel pricing can help identify markets experiencing faster cost escalation.
West Diesel Prices
The Western region presented a more mixed picture, with diesel price changes varying significantly by state.
| State | Jul. 1 | Aug. 25 | Change | % Change |
| Alaska (AK) | $4.849 | $5.699 | +$0.850 | +17.5% |
| Arizona (AZ) | $4.904 | $5.784 | +$0.880 | +17.9% |
| California (CA) | $6.388 | $7.098 | +$0.710 | +11.1% |
| Colorado (CO) | $4.338 | $5.500 | +$1.162 | +26.8% |
| Hawaii (HI) | $6.852 | $6.795 | -$0.057 | -0.8% |
| Idaho (ID) | $4.753 | $5.564 | +$0.811 | +17.1% |
| Montana (MT) | $4.336 | $5.395 | +$1.059 | +24.4% |
| New Mexico (NM) | $4.674 | $5.455 | +$0.781 | +16.7% |
| Nevada (NV) | $5.160 | $5.840 | +$0.680 | +13.2% |
| Oregon (OR) | $5.410 | $5.696 | +$0.286 | +5.3% |
| Utah (UT) | $4.741 | $5.518 | +$0.777 | +16.4% |
| Washington (WA) | $5.928 | $6.354 | +$0.426 | +7.2% |
| Wyoming (WY) | $4.664 | $5.528 | +$0.864 | +18.5% |
West Diesel Price Highlights
Colorado (CO) recorded the largest increase in the West at 26.8%, followed by Montana (MT) at 24.4%.
California remained one of the highest-priced markets, reaching $7.098 per gallon, but its percentage increase was comparatively moderate at 11.1%.
Hawaii (HI) was the only market in the dataset to record a decline, moving from $6.852 to $6.795 per gallon, a 0.8% decrease.
This contrast reinforces the difference between current diesel price levels and price momentum.
Key Findings from the Six-Week Diesel Price Analysis
1. Diesel prices increased across almost every U.S. market
The July 1 to August 25 comparison shows broad-based upward movement across the 50 states analyzed.
Most states recorded double-digit increases, with several markets exceeding 20%.
2. The South showed widespread increases above 20%
The South contained a particularly large concentration of states with increases above 20%, including OK, MS, TX, LA, AL, AR, NC, VA, SC, FL and GA.
This makes the region one of the strongest areas of upward diesel price movement in the analysis.
3. Pennsylvania was the biggest percentage mover
PA recorded a 76.1% increase, substantially higher than every other state analyzed.
However, the increase should be viewed alongside Pennsylvania’s July 1 starting price of $3.383 per gallon.
A lower starting point can produce a much larger percentage change when prices subsequently move higher.
4. Western markets showed greater variation
The West ranged from a 0.8% decline in HI to a 26.8% increase in CO.
This wide range demonstrates that even within the same region, diesel price trends can differ substantially.
5. The highest price isn’t necessarily the fastest-growing market
California reached $7.098 per gallon, making it one of the highest-priced markets in the dataset.
However, its six-week increase was 11.1%.
By comparison, Oklahoma and Mississippi started from lower July prices but recorded increases of 26.8% and 26.3%, respectively.
This distinction between price level and price momentum is important when analyzing fuel markets.
Why State-Level Diesel Price Monitoring Matters
National diesel averages are useful for understanding the overall direction of the fuel market. However, they can hide significant differences between individual states and local markets.
For fuel retailers, fleet operators, transportation companies, convenience stores and other fuel-intensive businesses, knowing where prices are moving and how quickly they are changing can provide a more actionable view of market conditions.
A market experiencing a 25% increase over six weeks creates a very different operating environment from one experiencing a 5% increase even if both markets have similar current prices.
This is where consistent fuel price monitoring and pricing intelligence can become valuable.
Businesses can use location-level fuel data to:
- Track diesel prices across markets
- Compare state-level fuel price movements
- Identify markets with rapidly increasing prices
- Monitor competitor and local fuel pricing
- Measure price changes over time
- Support regional pricing decisions
- Improve fuel cost forecasting
- Identify emerging market trends
The objective is not simply to know what fuel costs today.
It is to understand how the market is moving.
Track → Compare → Measure → Identify
Turn Fuel Prices Into Actionable Pricing Intelligence
At ITSYS Solutions, we help businesses collect, structure and monitor large-scale pricing data from the web.
Our fuel pricing intelligence solutions can help businesses monitor fuel prices across locations and markets, organize pricing data into structured datasets, and track changes over time.
Instead of relying solely on periodic manual research, businesses can build a consistent view of fuel pricing across the markets that matter to them.
Looking for more than a national fuel average?
Explore how ITSYS Solutions can help you build a location-level fuel pricing intelligence solution tailored to your market.
Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Diesel Prices
What was the average U.S. diesel price on July 1, 2026?
Based on the 50-state dataset analyzed in this report, the calculated average diesel price was $4.742 per gallon on July 1, 2026.
What was the average U.S. diesel price on August 25, 2026?
The calculated 50-state average was $5.583 per gallon on August 25, 2026.
How much did U.S. diesel prices increase between July 1 and August 25?
The calculated average increased by $0.841 per gallon, representing a 17.7% increase.
Which state had the largest diesel price increase?
Pennsylvania (PA) recorded the largest percentage increase in the dataset, rising 76.1%, from $3.383 to $5.957 per gallon.
Which state had the highest diesel price on August 25?
Among the states analyzed, California (CA) recorded the highest August 25 price at $7.098 per gallon.
Did any state experience a decline in diesel prices?
Yes. Hawaii (HI) was the only state in the dataset to record a decline, moving from $6.852 to $6.795 per gallon, a 0.8% decrease.
Why is state-level diesel price data important?
State-level diesel pricing can reveal significant differences that may not be visible in national averages. Tracking individual markets helps businesses understand where prices are rising, how quickly they are changing, and where fuel cost pressure may be increasing.
Final Takeaway
The six-week period from July 1 to August 25, 2026 shows a clear upward movement in U.S. diesel prices.
The calculated 50-state average increased 17.7%, but the state-level picture was far more varied.
From PA’s 76.1% increase to HI’s 0.8% decline, the data demonstrates why a single national average cannot fully explain what is happening across the U.S. fuel market.
For businesses exposed to fuel costs, the ability to continuously track, compare and measure location-level diesel prices can provide a more detailed view of market conditions and help identify changes as they happen.
Want to turn fuel pricing data into actionable market intelligence?
Connect with ITSYS Solutions to explore a customized fuel pricing intelligence solution.
