Fuel prices, gasoline compared to diesel prices?

[Kirk]

Driving in the Dallas area yesterday, I was noticing the wide price gap between the price of gasoline and for diesel fuel. It seems to be getting wider with time so I was wondering if this is happening everywhere. I'm looking not so at the prices but at the increase from gasoline to the price of diesel. I looked at the AAA price chart and found this: Does everyone see that same pattern of more than a $1.30 to as much as $2 difference?

	Regular	Mid-Grade	Premium	Diesel
Current Avg.	$3.615	$4.084	$4.451	$5.059
Yesterday Avg.	$3.633	$4.098	$4.467	$5.091
Week Ago Avg.	$3.768	$4.250	$4.620	$5.286
Month Ago Avg.	$3.618	$4.095	$4.474	$4.910
Year Ago Avg.	$2.736	$3.184	$3.539	$3.092

 

[runamuck]

found Dsl below 5$ at a few places near me here in DFW area yesterday. an Exxon close by was at 4.55$. A month ago mostly around 3.19-3.39.

 

[Rene T]

At my Sam’s Club it is 3.72 for regular and 5.09 for diesel

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

I think Kirk's point is that a year ago diesel cost about $0.36 more than regular gas. Now the difference is about $1.45. Why the huge difference in the spread?

I suspect it has to do with diesel pricing being more global - it's a worldwide market - whereas gasoline is more regional. The USA exports diesel if the world market price is high (and it is), but for various complex reasons related to refineries and logistics, we both import and export gasoline. The net of it is that US diesel pricing is much more sensitive to worldwide market prices than gasoline.

 

[Derby6]

Yep about $1.40 more here. And man does it hurt when I’m empty in my pickups with pack tanks. Lol

 

[Kirk]

Now the difference is about $1.45. Why the huge difference in the spread?

That and also that diesel prices seem to vary more across the area than do gasoline prices. In the past few days I have seen that difference be as much as $2/gallon. Gary is quite likely at least partly right. Another factor may be that diesel is almost the only fuel that is used by farmers, truckers, and various commercial vehicles that have no choice but buy it, whatever the price may be, while gasoline is mostly automobiles, many of whose drivers have the option to drive less, leave the car home and use commuter transportation, and so reduce the amount of gasoline sold.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Yeah, I agree that commercial demand is another major factor. If you have a load to deliver or a field to plow to make your livelihood, you have to pay whatever is asked. I've noticed that fuel prices at stations with heavy commercial traffic are often higher priced than those competing for consumer traffic.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Driving in the Dallas area yesterday, I was noticing the wide price gap between the price of gasoline and for diesel fuel. It seems to be getting wider with time so I was wondering if this is happening everywhere. I'm looking not so at the prices but at the increase from gasoline to the price of diesel. I looked at the AAA price chart and found this: Does everyone see that same pattern of more than a $1.30 to as much as $2 difference?

	Regular	Mid-Grade	Premium	Diesel
Current Avg.	$3.615	$4.084	$4.451	$5.059
Yesterday Avg.	$3.633	$4.098	$4.467	$5.091
Week Ago Avg.	$3.768	$4.250	$4.620	$5.286
Month Ago Avg.	$3.618	$4.095	$4.474	$4.910
Year Ago Avg.	$2.736	$3.184	$3.539	$3.092

Yes, blame the extra refining needed to produce Ultra Low Sulfur diesel fuel needed by current diesel exhaust systems. Modern diesel is no longer just more finely filtered home heating oil. The prices are why my F-350 diesel is pretty much parked for the duration.

 

[Derby6]

Interesting Lou. Good to know. But I can’t park my trucks. Lol

 

[CharlesinGA]

I paid $4.89 today for Valero diesel in my hometown. A month ago on March 20 I paid $5.39 at the same station. Made a spur of the moment trip to Cheaha State Park in Alabama. 252 miles round trip, burned 18.783 gals ($92.02). Lots of accelerating and decelerating on two lane highway going over, plus lots of up an down grades. Came back a longer, flatter route. 13.46 mpg, I usually do better than that.

I met my travel buddy and his wife there. We walked a couple of trails, but there are many more trails to cover, so I will be returning.

Charles

 

[Jackiemac]

Diesel almost $10 a gallon here now. Thank goodness we don't do a lot of miles when home.

 

[Joezeppy]

Marcy, NY today $5.59 for diesel. $4.09 for 87 octane gas.

 

[Thrak]

Saw Chevron in town today at $6.19 for regular. Didn't take note of the other prices as we were turning a corner. Costco is showing at $5.39 for regular. I buy my gas at the Safeway market. We do our shopping there and generally have the max $1/gallon discount when we need to fill up.

We're leaving mid May for a proposed 6 week trip including parts of Canada and various locations in the US. I expect to weep regularly when paying for gas.

 

[rjshiflet]

About $1.40 per gallon difference this week in Parker County, Tx (west of Fort Worth), but diesel at Petro is $4.56 with Open Roads or with my 10 cents discount at Murphy/WalMart it's $4.64. GasBuddy says the cheapest regular in the area is $3.28.

 

[garyb1st]

I've noticed the same in California. Diesel has spiked more than gasoline and gasoline can vary by as much as $1.50 a gallon from one station to the next n the Los Angeles area.

 

[DutchmenSport]

.... Does everyone see that same pattern of more than a $1.30 to as much as $2 difference?

Yes, the difference is nothing new though. There has been over a dollar spread for the last several years, all over (everywhere). The only reason you might be noticing it now, is because the prices for all fuels is increasing across the board.

Diesel has been at least dollar higher for the last the last 16 years. Nothing new. It's just more noticeable because people are actually looking now.

 

[Larry N.]

I got a big surprise a while ago. Yesterday when I went past the Safeway a couple of miles west of here it was $3.89, but this evening it was $4.29 -- BIG jump.

 

[Derby6]

Yes, the difference is nothing new though. There has been over a dollar spread for the last several years, all over (everywhere). The only reason you might be noticing it now, is because the prices for all fuels is increasing across the board.

Diesel has been at least dollar higher for the last the last 16 years. Nothing new. It's just more noticeable because people are actually looking now.

I dunno If I agree with that. Diesel has been higher a lot but I’ve seen it even or just a little above regular gas. Well over a dollar more is abnormal IMO.

 

[Kirk]

I dunno If I agree with that.

Here in north Texas, I'm quite sure that I too saw a much smaller difference not so very long ago. From the Dallas Morning News:

Historical Context (Texas Average):

• April 2026: $\approx$$3.62/g (Gas), $\approx$$5.40/g (Diesel)
• April 2025: $\approx$$2.68/g (Gas), $\approx$$3.06/g (Diesel)

 

[Larry N.]

I got a big surprise a while ago. Yesterday when I went past the Safeway a couple of miles west of here it was $3.89, but this evening it was $4.29 -- BIG jump.

I passed there again, about 15 minutes ago, and the price had gone up another 2¢ to $4.31.