California diesel hits $9.999, and some pumps can’t go any higher

Diesel prices in California have climbed so high that some gas stations are reaching the numerical limits of their digital price displays. Several stations have displayed diesel at $9.999 per gallon, the highest price certain four-digit dispensers can show, while California’s statewide diesel average has now climbed above $8 per gallon.

California’s diesel surge comes amid record national prices and tight global fuel supplies. Middle East conflict, disruptions to oil and refined-fuel supply, and refinery constraints are driving costs higher, with diesel-dependent industries such as trucking, agriculture, and freight also feeling the pressure.

GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan initially reported that 5 California stations were displaying diesel at $9.999 per gallon. By September 10, GasBuddy told FOX 11 that 6 stations had reached that display limit, with locations reported in Santa Clara, Serra Mesa, San Jose, and Paso Robles.

The figure matters because some digital fuel dispensers are designed to display prices only up to $9.999 per gallon. For those systems, that figure represents the practical ceiling unless the equipment or pricing software is modified.

De Haan cautioned that a $9.999 display does not always mean diesel is actually being sold at that price. Some stations use the figure when they are temporarily out of diesel, although reporting also confirmed a $9.999 display at a station in Serra Mesa.

California pricing rules generally require businesses to honor the lowest applicable posted or advertised price and prohibit them from displaying a price lower than the amount customers are required to pay, except for permitted taxes or optional charges.

California diesel approaches $8 statewide

California’s statewide average for diesel has now moved above $8 per gallon. AAA data showed diesel at about $7.98 on September 11, before rising to roughly $8.15 by September 14. EIA’s weekly series put California diesel at $7.764 per gallon for the week of September 7, up $0.546 from the previous week and $2.806 from a year earlier.

The increase has coincided with extreme prices at individual locations across the state. Earlier in 2026, a Chevron station in Fenner was reported selling regular gasoline at $9.69 per gallon, while a downtown Los Angeles Chevron was later reported selling diesel at $8.89 and regular gasoline at $8.29 per gallon.

Regular gasoline also remains expensive in California. AAA showed the statewide average at roughly $6 per gallon by September 14, leaving California drivers paying substantially more than the national average.

California’s Division of Petroleum Market Oversight continues to monitor unusually high retail prices and says its investigators contact sellers when prices appear excessive and disproportionate to changes in their underlying costs.

National diesel prices are setting records

The surge is not limited to California. The national average for diesel reached about $6.06 per gallon on September 11, a record at the time, and prices have continued to rise since.

EIA data for the week of September 7 put the national diesel average at about $5.97 per gallon, above the agency’s previous record of $5.81, set in June 2022. Different fuel price trackers can report different averages because they use different collection schedules and methodologies.

GasBuddy petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan said the national diesel average could rise toward $7 per gallon if current conditions persist. Higher diesel costs can filter through freight, agriculture, deliveries, and other parts of the supply chain.

De Haan also estimated that Americans were spending about $700 million more per day on gasoline and diesel than a year earlier. He said that the daily increase could eventually approach $1 billion if fuel prices keep climbing.

Global oil disruptions are driving fuel pressure

The price surge has intensified as global oil markets face disruptions linked to military conflict in the Middle East and restrictions affecting major shipping routes. Brent crude reached about $109 per barrel on September 10 as renewed attacks increased concerns about global oil supply.

Saudi oil production also fell sharply during August. Saudi Arabia reported crude production of about 6.24 million barrels per day to OPEC. In comparison, the International Energy Agency estimated crude supply at about 6 million barrels per day, the lowest level in more than three decades.

Diesel markets have become particularly tight as disruptions affect refined fuel exports from major producing regions. The strain leaves trucking, agriculture, freight, and other diesel-dependent industries exposed to higher fuel costs.

The timing adds pressure because fall harvests increase diesel use across major agricultural regions. Higher fuel and transportation costs can then feed into production and distribution expenses throughout the supply chain.

California is particularly vulnerable to fuel price spikes because its transportation fuel market is more isolated than markets in much of the country. The state relies on specialized fuel imports when local refinery production and inventories cannot meet demand.

California also imposes fuel-related taxes, environmental program costs, and other fees that contribute to retail prices. Its cleaner-burning gasoline formulation is designed to reduce air pollution and is produced by a more limited group of suppliers than conventional gasoline.

Refinery outages and closures can reduce the state’s supply flexibility, particularly when replacement fuel must arrive by marine shipment. California has no pipelines bringing gasoline into the state from other U.S. refining regions.

That isolation can make it more difficult to replace supplies quickly. The California Energy Commission says imported gasoline and blending components accounted for 19% of supply in 2025, while outside supplies of gasoline and diesel are routinely needed to balance supply with demand.

Federal officials face pressure over fuel costs

President Donald Trump has acknowledged that oil prices may remain elevated through the midterm election period. He said prices could fall after the election and predicted gasoline could eventually drop below $2 per gallon.

Trump has repeatedly called for lower gasoline prices during the conflict with Iran. Earlier in the year, he criticized fuel sellers over prices and argued that gasoline costs should fall more quickly.

The administration has also released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increase supply. Trump authorized the release of 172 million barrels earlier this year.

Department of Energy data showed the reserve falling by about 1.2 million barrels in one recent week to approximately 285.4 million barrels. Strategic crude releases can add oil supply to the market, but they do not directly create additional diesel refining capacity.

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