California's statewide average for a gallon of diesel hit $7.559 on Thursday, April 3 -- an all-time record for any US state, eclipsing the previous day's mark of $7.522. [1] The record before the war was $7.012, set in June 2022. [2] San Diego diesel averaged $7.036. [3] Six US states now have average diesel above $6 per gallon. [4]

The math for California's trucking industry is existential. At $7.559, a truck with twin 150-gallon tanks costs more than $2,267 to fill. A month ago, the same fill cost approximately $1,500. The difference -- $767 per fill, multiple fills per week -- is the margin that determines whether a small trucking company survives.

NBC Los Angeles confirmed the record. [1] The trajectory has not paused for a single day.

-- DARA OSEI, London