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A fleet of tankers laden with Russian diesel heading to the U.S. East Coast may help to alleviate the most expensive retail prices for the fuel in seven years.

Top administration officials met the evening of Oct. 12 to discuss rising gasoline and natural gas prices, as President Joe Biden faces intensifying pressure to keep a lid on inflation that threatens the economic recovery and Democrats’ political ambitions.

U.S. inventories of distillates — used as diesel for both transportation and heating oil — are enough to meet just 31.2 days of demand, according to the Energy Information Administration. That’s the tightest it has been for this time of the year since 2000.

The national average price for diesel fuel soared 7.1 cents to reach $3.477 a gallon.

New Jersey’s gasoline tax will drop 8.3 cents to 42.4 cents a gallon on Oct. 1 after drivers were forced to pay more at the pump a year ago, state officials announced Aug. 24.

The national average price of diesel increased for the ninth consecutive week June 28 when it climbed 1.3 cents to reach $3.30 a gallon, the Energy Information Administration reported.

For a look at how dramatically U.S. oil consumption is roaring back, consider this: Bennie Baucham, a trucker for four decades, hasn’t been this busy in years.

The nationwide average price of diesel fuel increased by 1.2 cents over the past week to $3.286 a gallon, according to data released June 14 by the Energy Information Administration.

Brazil and Mexico are beginning to emerge from the pandemic and that’s boosting demand for road fuel in economies that buy more U.S. gasoline and diesel than any other foreign nation.

While diesel prices remained flat according to data released this week, experts are warning of rising prices headed into summer as a shortage of tank truck drivers threatens to tighten supplies.