VALDERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Diesel fuel prices have hit an all-time record high in Wisconsin at $6.19 a gallon, according to AAA.
Nationally, the average cost for diesel is $6.39 per gallon.
A year ago, the national average for diesel was $2.69 cheaper.
This comes as the war in Iran disrupts the world’s flow of fuel.
Most consumer goods in the United States rely on being transported with diesel powered trucks.
As diesel prices continue to soar, the cost of your groceries will too.
“Diesel helps move milk from farms, ingredients to processors, products to stores, and then ultimately to the consumers,” Wisconsin Grocers Association President & CEO Mike Semmann said.
Semmann said grocers are already looking for ways to adapt for consumers.
“They’re going to have to pivot quickly and make sure that they can do everything, especially in this value driven environment to keep prices as stable as possible,” Semmann said.
Grocery stores aren’t the only industry seeing an impact from expensive diesel, it’s also hurting the lumber industry.
Krueger Lumber Company in Valders said they have multiple pieces of equipment that rely on diesel fuel.
Everything from cutting trees to running forklifts and making deliveries uses diesel.
Co-owner Larry Krueger said he’s most concerned loggers will quit if fuel costs don’t drop.
“If they can’t make money, they’re going to stop producing. And if they don’t produce, we don’t produce. So we need reasonable diesel prices so that we can all stay in business,” Krueger said.
Krueger said another issue is the lack of railroad access in Wisconsin.
This means his wood has to be trucked to Illinois, which uses more fuel.
“They closed those four railroad spots in eastern Wisconsin a few years ago. If we could open one or two more of those, that would save a lot of diesel. Because railroad uses about a third of the diesel that trucks do,” Krueger said.
Krueger said higher fuel costs will likely mean higher delivery costs and ultimately, higher costs for customers.
It’s not just diesel fuel seeing a price hike, regular unleaded fuel is rising too.
Consumers can use gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest fuel near them.
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