Fuel price articles and guides
Plain-English explanations of what moves diesel, gasoline and jet fuel prices, with live figures where they help.
How U.S. diesel prices are set
Crude oil, refining, distribution and taxes: the four pieces of every gallon, and which one moves the most.
Diesel 5 minWhy diesel costs more than gasoline
A higher federal tax, a tighter global market and stricter fuel specs. The gap is not fixed.
Data 4 minPADD regions explained: why EIA reports fuel prices by region
The five Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts date back to World War II and still shape U.S. fuel data.
Data 5 minHow to read EIA’s weekly fuel price data
What the Monday survey measures, when it is released, and the mistakes to avoid when comparing numbers.
States 5 minWhy California fuel prices are so high
Cleaner-burning blends, state programs, higher taxes and an isolated refining market.
Jet fuel 4 minJet fuel prices explained
Why the Gulf Coast spot price is the benchmark, and how it reaches airfares and air-freight surcharges.
Gasoline 4 minPremium vs. regular gas: is it worth it?
Only if your engine requires it. Here is what the price gap costs you in a year.
Analysis 5 minThe diesel crack spread: an early signal for pump prices
What refiners earn on a gallon of diesel, how we calculate it, and why it leads retail.
Freight 5 minHow trucking fuel surcharges work
Peg price, miles per gallon and the weekly EIA diesel number: the formula behind most truckload surcharges.
Analysis 4 minSeasonal patterns in gasoline and diesel prices
Summer blends, driving season, harvest and heating oil: the calendar effects worth knowing.
Freight 6 min12 ways fleets cut fuel costs
From idle reduction to fuel-card discounts and smarter surcharge terms.
Data 4 minFuel taxes explained: federal and state
How much of the pump price is tax, and why it varies so much from state to state.
Analysis 6 minWhy gas and diesel prices rose in 2026
A crude oil shock in March, constrained shipping lanes, scarce distillates and squeezed retail margins: what EIA’s data show.
Home heating 6 minHeating oil vs. propane: which costs less to heat a home?
Price per gallon misleads. Compare cost per million Btu delivered, and see where a heat pump fits.
Home heating 6 minHow to pay less for heating oil and propane this winter
Pre-buy, capped and market-price plans compared, plus the tune-ups, timing and assistance programs that cut the bill.
EV 5 minEV charging vs. gas: what driving really costs
The math behind cost per mile, why home and public charging differ so much, and the state numbers.
Alt fuels 6 minE85, E15, CNG, propane autogas and biodiesel compared
What each fuel is, which vehicles can use it, and how to compare prices fairly on an energy basis.
Freight 7 minHow shippers negotiate fuel surcharges
Index, peg, mpg, table steps, caps and applicability: the six levers in every fuel surcharge, and how to audit them.
Freight 5 minParcel fuel surcharges explained
How parcel carriers turn weekly diesel and jet fuel prices into a percentage, and why the base it applies to matters as much as the rate.
Procurement 6 minFixed, capped or index fuel pricing: how to choose
Rack-plus, cost-plus, retail-minus and fixed-price contracts for fleets, and pre-buy plans for homes, compared.