The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday, Sept. 5, edition that diesel fuel prices jumped to a record high on Friday in the United States. A New York Times dispatch to The Globe reports that the national average price of a gallon of diesel reached $5.85, up more than 55 per cent since the start of the Iran war (all figures U.S.). That surpassed the previous peak, set four years ago during the global energy crunch caused by Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Other refined petroleum products, like gasoline and jet fuel, have also soared. Gasoline cost $4.15 a gallon on Friday, on average, up nearly 40 per cent since the Iran war began. Goldman Sachs says over the past six months, "global prices of all main refined products have increased more than crude prices." The price of Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, traded at around $96 a barrel on Friday, up about 30 per cent since the start of the war. U.S. refineries are producing more fuels to take advantage of the "crack spread," or the difference between the price of crude and refined petroleum products, which has reached record highs. A widening spread has helped companies like Marathon and Valero earn record profits.