AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Friday, 2/23/24

National Average Price for Regular Unleaded Current: $2.378; Month Ago: $2.172; Year Ago: $2.571. National Average Price for Diesel Current: $2.618; Month Ago: $2.480; Year Ago: $3.008.

Oil prices slipped Monday, giving back some of a steep climb from Friday seen after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom would develop nuclear weapons if arch-rival Iran did. Underpinning prices are tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are seen potentially disrupting global supplies. The Saudi crown prince visits the U.S. this week, which could provide plenty of headlines, as the Trump administration has called for a new look at the Iran nuclear pact. Trump told European leaders they must “fix the terrible flaws” in the deal or the U.S. would refuse to extend its sanctions relief on Iran. Click Read More below for additional information.

American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 2.4% in September after rising 0.3% in August. In September, the index equaled 112.9 (2015=100) compared with 110.2 in August. “September’s sequential gain was the largest in 2021,” said ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello. “It is good that tonnage rose in September, but it is important to note that this is happening because each truck is hauling more, not from an increase in the amount of equipment operated as contract carriers in the for-hire truckload market continue to shrink from the lack of new trucks and drivers. “The drivers of truck freight, including retail, construction, and manufacturing, plus a surge in imports, are helping keep demand high for trucking services,” he said.