Diesel prices are increasing at a faster pace than gasoline due to the Iran war, disrupting critical oil supplies. National average diesel prices hit $4.78 a gallon on Tuesday, a 27% increase since the joint US-Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28. The cost increases could be catastrophic for American farmers and truckers, but as diesel is integral to the transportation sector, it could also increase prices on nearly everything in their homes. Truckers pass along part of the higher fuel costs to retailers and restaurants, which then transfer some of these costs to consumers in form of price hikes. Economists are concerned that higher energy costs could cause inflation and slow growth, making it difficult for the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates.