US September 2026 average prices: diesel hits a record $6.331 a gallon, up 14%

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) average price data track what urban consumers across the US pay for specific goods. They show directly how energy costs reach households and businesses.

Diesel is at its highest level on record

• The US city average price of diesel was $6.331 a gallon in September, up from $5.547 in August, a 14% rise.
• That is the highest value in the series. The previous peak was $5.758 in June 2022.
• Diesel was about 70% above September 2025, when it cost $3.730.
• Most of the rise came after February 2026, when diesel cost $3.746.

Heating oil and gasoline also rose sharply

• No. 2 fuel oil, the heating oil many homes burn, rose to $5.922 a gallon from $5.145. That is up 15% from August and 65% from a year earlier.
• In the urban Northeast, the main heating-oil market, it rose to $5.855 from $5.119, just before the heating season.
• Regular gasoline rose 6.7%, to $4.482 a gallon from $4.200. It is still below May's $4.651 but about 34% above a year earlier. In the Pacific region it reached $5.751.
• These moves match the energy-driven September consumer price index (CPI) and producer price index (PPI), which are already published.

Food and utility prices were mostly steady

• Electricity stayed at 19.6 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Piped natural gas cost $1.700 per therm, against $1.714 in August.
• Ground beef slipped to $6.792 a pound from $6.923, but is still about 7% above a year ago. Beef steaks eased to $12.69 from $12.81.
• Eggs were unchanged at $2.272 a dozen, about 35% below September 2025.
• Coffee changed little at $9.332 a pound. Whole milk fell to $4.106 from $4.229.