The NYMEX October West Texas Intermediate crude contract fell $1.08 to $90.22 per barrel by 11 a.m. ET, while the November contract dropped 55 cents to $87.64. International benchmarks followed a similar trajectory, with November ICE Brent crude down 35 cents to $95.17 per barrel. Despite these daily losses, crude prices are tracking toward a weekly increase of approximately $7 per barrel.

Diesel markets remain under significant scrutiny as U.S. retail prices hit record highs. The October ULSD contract declined 5.95 cents to $4.5341 per gallon, though the commodity is still on course for a 17-cent weekly gain. Conversely, RBOB gasoline futures saw gains, with the October contract rising 4.41 cents to $3.179 per gallon. This shift comes as drivers face unprecedented costs at the pump, with regular unleaded averaging $4.1474 per gallon, far exceeding the previous holiday record of $3.83. Retail diesel reached a new peak of $5.85 per gallon, surpassing the 2022 high of $5.8159.