Trump Weighs Gas Tax Suspension as Diesel Prices Bite

· Energy · United States

President Donald Trump said he is weighing a potential suspension of the federal gas tax as his administration looks for ways to ease high energy costs ahead of November's midterm elections. Trump also signed an executive order allowing truckers to burn dyed, off-road diesel normally reserved for tractors and trawlers on public roads and highways, a move analysts said won't do much to immediately lower fuel prices and has sowed confusion for truck stops and fuel sellers. The US national average price of diesel topped $6 a gallon in September for the first time ever as fuel supply disruptions pushed up transportation costs. Goldman Sachs said tight refinery capacity could keep diesel prices elevated through 2027.

Why it matters：Persistently high diesel prices feed into transport and consumer costs worldwide, and US efforts to cap them signal how energy costs are shaping politics and inflation.

Key points

  • Trump is weighing a federal gas tax suspension and signed an order allowing dyed off-road diesel on highways.
  • The US average diesel price topped $6 a gallon in September for the first time ever.
  • Goldman Sachs expects tight refinery capacity to keep diesel prices high through 2027.

Sources (original reporting)

More stories from this day