The diesel shock threatening Trump's inflation fight
Unlike crude oil or petrol, diesel rarely makes front-page news, yet it now has United States President Donald Trump's full attention. Spiking prices for the fuel threaten to push inflation higher, and taming it will be an epic challenge. Diesel is the fuel that keeps the global economy moving. It powers the trucks that stock supermarket shelves, the ships that carry goods around the world, and…
Diesel, an often overlooked fuel, has drawn President Donald Trump's focus amid rising prices that threaten inflation. This fuel powers essential industries like agriculture, construction, and shipping, making its supply tight. The conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East has damaged refineries, restricting diesel exports from Russia and the Gulf region by nearly two-thirds compared to pre-war levels.
Higher prices in Europe and the U.S. signal a ripple effect through supply chains, potentially impacting food, manufacturing, and construction costs. The diesel crisis could complicate the November midterm elections, especially in farming regions where higher costs affect harvests. Restoring damaged refining capacity will be challenging, with global refinery output expected to drop to 81.5 million barrels per day by year-end, down from 84 million bpd in 2025.
Tackling persistently high diesel prices and their potential impact on inflation remains a daunting challenge for Trump's administration.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
