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Why Diesel Prices Are So High - Refining margins, not crude oil, account for most of the increase
Agricultural Economics ^ | 28 September 2026 | Dr. Greg Ibendahl

Posted on 09/28/2026 8:33:27 AM PDT by Merrick

The U.S. average retail price of diesel was $5.97 per gallon the week of September 7, 2026, up $2.25 from its February average of $3.72, before the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz began. Crude oil accounts for 68 cents of that increase. The refining margin — the gap between the wholesale price of diesel and the cost of the crude it is made from — accounts for $1.71.

The world is short of refined diesel rather than crude oil. Russia, once Europe’s largest diesel supplier, has nearly stopped exporting refined products after Ukrainian attacks on its refineries and a Russian government ban on diesel exports. The Gulf refineries that replaced Russian diesel in Europe have lost most of their exports to the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. refineries are running near full capacity, and a growing share of their output is being bid away to replace the lost supply.

The $5.97 price is the highest nominal figure in EIA’s weekly record, 16 cents above June 2022. Adjusted for inflation, it remains about 9 percent below the 2022 peak.

(Excerpt) Read more at agricultural.substack.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: blamethejooozzz; crude; diesel; iran; itsthejooozzz; makemycargo; makemytruckgo; trump; votingdemocrattax
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Crude oil cost explains less than 1/3 of the increase of diesel prices. The rest is Democrats and Zelenskyy. As long as you put more than twice the blame on Democrats every time you bitch about Trump and diesel costs, go right ahead...
1 posted on 09/28/2026 8:33:27 AM PDT by Merrick
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To: Merrick

2 posted on 09/28/2026 8:37:25 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Merrick

The ignorant only know “gas prices” and are clueless about refining capabilities. Here in Reno we get our fuels from refinery challenged caulifourkneeyuh. Our gas and diesel have been high for a long time. No new refineries in how many years anywhere? How many closings? Pretty sure we have the crude.........


3 posted on 09/28/2026 8:38:42 AM PDT by rktman (Patriotism not 'hateriotism' !. Enlisted USN 1967 proudly. 🇺🇸)
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To: Merrick

Israel tax


4 posted on 09/28/2026 8:39:15 AM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: All

5 posted on 09/28/2026 8:41:15 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: rktman

Dimocrats will not allow refineries to be built and quick to close the ones running.


6 posted on 09/28/2026 8:43:29 AM PDT by bray (Thank God for Israel)
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To: Red Badger

The ‘Rats have promised De Beers Diamonds - the Green Energy Scam. That is missing from your graphic. They have also been told that they could recoup Trump’s first term, so they’re collecting the money as we speak.

(That is just my pessimistic view.)


7 posted on 09/28/2026 8:45:31 AM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: bray

how dare you post facts on this topic ...


8 posted on 09/28/2026 8:45:56 AM PDT by bankwalker (Feminists, like all Marxists, are ungrateful parasites.)
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To: Empire_of_Liberty

How can the Democrats now complain about Gasoline and Diesel prices being so high when during the Obama and Biden Administrations they were intentionally driving the prices higher in order to get all Americans into EVs?......................


9 posted on 09/28/2026 8:48:57 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Merrick; muleskinner; Fiddlstix; TexasTransplant; Squeako; dennisw; norwaypinesavage; 1Old Pro; ...

DIESEL KNOCK LIST!....................


10 posted on 09/28/2026 8:50:22 AM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Red Badger

I’m sorry - did you just ask, “how can Democrats be lying hypocrites?”


11 posted on 09/28/2026 8:53:00 AM PDT by Merrick (It's a car - that runs on water, man.)
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To: Red Badger

Liberals want these things, but hate oil companies.


12 posted on 09/28/2026 8:55:00 AM PDT by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: qam1

“Israel tax”

The article literally says the price of oil is not the issue, but rather domestic politics.


13 posted on 09/28/2026 8:55:17 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: qam1

“Israel tax”

The article literally says the price of oil is not the issue, but rather domestic politics.


14 posted on 09/28/2026 8:55:18 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: Red Badger

The main difference is the MSM hate the Trump administration .
Just like they hated the Bush, Bush, Reagan, Nixon. I think they HATE Trump more than any previous GOP administration.

The media covers for the Dems as much as possible.


15 posted on 09/28/2026 8:55:23 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
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To: Red Badger

I am thinking that the Presidency is far more manipulated than I ever thought.

There was, also, much more truth in that tired, old movie, “Three Days of the Condor”. Oil has been the center of US world politics for longer than I have been alive. Iran has been nurtured into the world terror it has become due to oil - not because they can produce it, but because they can terrorize the Straight.

(Of course, in the movie, Redford comes to the stupid conclusion that he can wag his jaw about it, but I view it as beside the point, as well as a failure of his upbringing.)


16 posted on 09/28/2026 9:01:02 AM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: rktman

12 refineries have been closed nationwide in the past 5 years...including 2 in CA that closed this year.


17 posted on 09/28/2026 9:03:12 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: Merrick

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would have brought about 800,000 barrels of oil a DAY to US refineries. US refineries would have processed the crude oil to produce gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, etc. Keystone XL would have reduced the cost of gasoline and diesel fuel. Biden killed Keystone XL.


18 posted on 09/28/2026 9:03:44 AM PDT by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: Merrick

>>The rest is Democrats and Zelenskyy.

Oh please...we didn’t have high diesel prices when we had Democrats AND Zelensky....trump gave us high diesel prices when he decided to goto war with Iran - you can support the war or not, but pretending it has nothing to do with high prices today is retarded.....stick you head up your ass and pretend otherwise.


19 posted on 09/28/2026 9:12:28 AM PDT by qwerty1234
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To: ChessExpert

Tell it to the, “Trump sold out MAGA,” idiots...


20 posted on 09/28/2026 9:17:34 AM PDT by Merrick (It's a car - that runs on water, man.)
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