Record Diesel Prices Could Put Even More Pressure on Pennsylvania Families

9/11/26, 8:45 AM

PENNSYLVANIA — You don't have to buy diesel to pay the price. Record-high diesel prices are making it more expensive to grow, transport and deliver food — adding pressure to grocery bills at a time when many families are already struggling to afford them.

The average price of diesel reached $5.85 a gallon on Sept. 4, the highest price ever recorded — 54% higher than it was a year ago. Diesel powers the farm equipment and trucks that help get food from fields to grocery store shelves, and those higher costs can eventually reach consumers.

At the same time, cuts to SNAP are leaving some families with less help paying for groceries. The 2025 federal tax law includes changes that have caused an estimated 210,000 Pennsylvanians, including 60,000 children, to lose SNAP benefits. For families already struggling to afford groceries, higher food costs and less help paying for them could make an already difficult situation even harder.

“Families don't experience these issues one at a time,” said Pam, resident of Lower Paxton, PA. “They're paying more for groceries while also dealing with higher costs for gas, housing and other essentials. When food costs rise and families have less help paying for groceries, it can make an already difficult situation even harder.”

Every increase matters when a family is already deciding what it can afford to put in the grocery cart. The combination of rising costs and reduced food assistance can leave families with fewer resources to cover the same basic needs.

As food and fuel costs continue to put pressure on household budgets, Pennsylvanians deserve clear information about what is driving these costs and how changes to federal programs may affect their ability to afford basic necessities.

Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry voted for the 2025 Republican Tax Law which included changes to SNAP and supported continued military action in Iran.

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