It was only in recent years that diesel fuel prices soared above gas prices. These two fuel categories used to have different peak seasons, with gasoline prices enjoying greater primacy in pricing over longer months. Gasoline then had the biggest gap in prices from diesel fuel during the summer months, when demand for gasoline peaked as a result of families taking long drives across states. Meanwhile, diesel fuels scored higher prices during the winter months, when the demand for distilled heating oils used at home increases as well. This is because distilled heating oil and diesel fuels are refined in the same facility using the same process, causing the demand for diesel fuel and distilled heating oil to act in a parallel manner.
The increase in the base price levels of both gasoline and diesel fuel has been primarily driven by the worldwide increase in crude oil prices. Crude oil is the basic ingredient from where different forms of fuels are derived from.
However, there are three particular reasons why the demand for diesel fuel have increased over time, the first being increasing demand, the second being the slackening demand for gasoline, and third being new...