US diesel average tops $6 for the first time

The national U.S. average for diesel has moved above $6 a gallon for the first time, turning a fuel-price spike into a broader cost problem. Diesel is the working fuel of the economy: it powers long-haul trucks, farm equipment, and much of the machinery used to move and produce goods. That means the increase reaches households indirectly, as carriers, growers, and other businesses decide how much of their higher fuel bills to absorb and how much to pass on. It will not raise every price immediately, but it adds a fresh source of pressure on inflation-sensitive consumers and businesses.