(The Center Square) – Transportation diesel prices have set a record in North Carolina, according to AAA, hitting $5.82 per gallon – a spike of 32 cents in the last week.
The national price is also at a record, hitting $5.90 Monday and staying there Tuesday.
A gallon of unleaded from Murphy to Manteo is up to $3.83, 4 cents higher than week ago and 14 cents higher than a month ago. The national rate for unleaded is $4.15.
The Center Square analyzes this market monthly, at a minimum, as part of its mission for reporting of government accountability, what taxpayers are spending and where, and how it translates for the businesses and communities throughout the state.
Diesel prices – the previous state record of $5.81 had stood since April 7 until being eclipsed over the weekend and climbing incrementally to start the week – are crucial to the trucking industry of America, and hence, many consumer staples. Fuel prices have been a concern ahead of the 2026 midterm elections ever since Israel and America launched missile strikes into Iran on Feb. 28.
Declarations of victory, military action being complete, of ceasefire, and of the ceasefire ending have preceded multiple ups and downs in industry price trends. Before the conflict, the Strait of Hormuz – Iran is on its northern coast – had about 20% of the world’s oil passing through daily.
For North Carolina, the average on Jan. 5 was a calendar year low of $2.61 a gallon for unleaded. The price was $2.75 the day before Operation Epic Fury began; was $4.21 on May 6; and $3.48 on July 8.
Diesel was $3.39 a gallon at the beginning of the year; $5.81 on April 7; $5.50 on May 6; and $4.56 on July 8.
Events coinciding with dates are second-term Republican President Donald Trump declaring a double-sided ceasefire April 7; North Carolina having a 9-cent overnight rise in gas prices on May 6; and Trump declaring the ceasefire over and strikes resuming on July 8.
North Carolina’s electric vehicle charging rate average, according to AAA, is 40 cents per kilowatt-hour. The national average is 42 cents per kWh. More than 100,000 zero-emission vehicles are registered in the state. At the start of 2025, the state norm was 33.5 cents per kWh and the national was 34.7 cents per kWh.
Only 13 states have lower average prices for a gallon of unleaded; 26 are lower for diesel; and 17 are lower in electric. California, Hawaii and Washington are each $6.91 or higher for a gallon for diesel – California is $7.82 – and each $5.39 or higher for a gallon of unleaded gasoline.
Among the 14 major metro areas in North Carolina, the least expensive average ($3.77) for unleaded gas is in three markets: Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, Goldsboro, and Fayetteville. The most expensive is the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area at $3.88.
Diesel is the most consumer-friendly ($5.71) in the Asheville market.
Per Environmental Protection Agency rules, the time for less volatile summer blend fuel to be sold is June 1 to Sept. 15. In general, summer fuel is considered 10 cents to 15 cents higher per gallon.
North Carolina’s 41 cents per gallon tax rate for 2026 is only eclipsed by California (61.2), Pennsylvania (57.6), Washington (55.4), Indiana (53.5), Michigan (52.4), New Jersey (49.1), Illinois (48.3) and Maryland (46.2).
Motor fuel taxes fund the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s highway and multi-modal projects, accounting for more than half of the state transportation resources. The revenues go into the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund.
