Raleigh restaurants feel the impacts of all-time high diesel prices :: WRAL.com

Friday marks yet another day of record average diesel gas
prices.

The national average reflects a record-breaking $6 a gallon
for diesel fuel, and an all-time high for North Carolina sitting at $5.90.

The effects of the high prices are hitting local farmers,
and the ripple effect impacts restaurants, too.

Max Gaskins, co-owner of Café Luna in Raleigh, said that the family-owned business may not see much impact from the price of diesel, since they import good directly.

However, Gaskins finds the price of goods becomes noticeable when there’s consistent fluctuation. “You don’t kind of really notice it until it’s end of the month and you’re doing inventory,” he said.

Anthony Rapillo, owner of Flour & Barrel on the corner of Harrington and North Streets, said taking the extra 10-15 minutes to look at inventory and being mindful of customer prices is top of priority since the inflation of prices of product and goods has been on the rise.

“What we’ve noticed the most is our cost of goods has just continued to go up. And people in our community, along with everywhere else, have to be more mindful of how they spend their money, so for us, it’s not just the food- it’s the atmosphere and what type of experience can we give to the people who walk through the door,” said Rapillo.

On Wednesday, President
Donald Trump acknowledged that the surging oil prices because of the
Iran likely won’t come down until after the 2026 midterm elections. Oil prices
on Wednesday jumped more than 3%, pushing international Brent crude past the
$100 threshold for the first time since July as salvos between the U.S. and Iran
escalated.

“Right after the election, oil prices are going to be
tumbling downward,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to take a little bit longer
than the midterm.”

With the average gallon of diesel nearing $6, WRAL asked
GasBuddy expert Patrick De Haan if there is any end in sight for the fuel price
spike.

“With crude oil now reaching $100 a barrel. New
escalations between the U.S. and Iran continue to lead to higher oil prices,
which trickles down to gasoline and diesel,” Haan said.

You can find the lowest gas prices near you using WRAL’s Fuel Tracker. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.