Diesel Costs Become New Worry as Gallon Surpasses $5
Original Report
The average price for a gallon of diesel in the US blew past $5 this week for only the second time in history. (Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine marked the fuel’s first foray into previously...
The average price for a gallon of diesel in the US blew past $5 this week for only the second time in history. (Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine marked the fuel’s first foray into previously unfathomable territory.) Although most consumers are far more concerned with the price of gasoline, it’s the even sharper increase in diesel that has businesses on alert. That’s because it powers nearly every industry, from the tractors plowing the fields to the machinery erecting buildings to the semitrucks, trains and buses that transport goods and people coast-to-coast. Diesel is the trucking industry’s second-largest expense, after driver pay, accounting for about a fifth of operating costs, according to Bob Costello, chief economist at American Trucking Associations. Bloomberg News Oil Reporter Nathan Risser joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. He speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)
Glass House Analysis
Inflation is the silent tax that erodes purchasing power, hitting hardest those who can least afford it. When grocery bills rise faster than wages, families face impossible choices between food, medicine, and rent. Unlike market volatility that mainly affects investors, inflation touches everyone who buys groceries, fills a gas tank, or pays rent.
Energy prices affect virtually every aspect of daily life—from commuting costs to heating bills to the price of groceries (which must be transported). For working families, energy represents one of the most volatile and impactful line items in their budgets. Energy policy decisions ripple through the economy, affecting everything from manufacturing competitiveness to household financial stress.
The implications extend beyond the immediate news cycle. Every economic development creates ripples that affect employment, prices, and opportunities in ways that may not be immediately visible but are deeply felt. By tracking these connections, we can better understand how the economy truly works—not as an abstract machine, but as a human system shaped by and shaping the lives of millions.
Enjoyed this analysis?
Get the Glass House Briefing every morning—market news that actually makes sense, delivered free to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
More Stories
Elon Musk misled Twitter investors ahead of $44 billion acquisition, jury says
Elon Musk was sued in late 2022 after completing his acquisition of Twitter, which he later renamed X.
Musk defrauded Twitter investors during buyout, jury finds
Panel members conclude the billionaire misled shareholders in tweets posted during the $44bn takeover
US Allows Sale of Stranded Iranian Oil to Cap Energy Price Hikes
The US Department of Treasury issued a general license allowing the sale of Iranian oil and petrochemical products loaded onto vessels on or before 12:01 am New York time Friday, marking the Trump...
Wall Street Week | Fed on Iran War, AI Expectations
This week, the Fed holds rate steady, anticipating greater uncertainty and higher prices amid the war in Iran. And AI is advancing fast, but real-world limits mean it may transform industries more...