diesel fuel

Venezuela has sent 70 million liters (18.5 million gallons) of diesel fuel to support Paraguay's incoming president.

Oil prices rose Friday after dropping sharply in the previous session on concerns that an increase in Chinese fuel prices would dampen oil demand in the booming Asian nation.

Crude futures had dropped nearly $5 a barrel on Thursday after China said it will raise prices for gasoline and diesel fuel 16 percent and 18 percent, respectively, beginning Friday.

The price of diesel fuel has truckers steamed over the huge impact it's having on their bottom lines. Fueling his big rig at the Travel Port in Greenland, Florida driver Rich Soboloski said the cost is making major cuts to his profit.

"The diesel price is really the one that plays into the overall health of the economy, because it's used to move goods from coast to coast."

What's wrong is that a fall of oil prices is one of the mecha­nisms by which a recession or economic slowdown corrects itself.

Lower prices for gasoline, home heating oil and diesel fuel improve consumer purchasing power. They muffle inflation and in­crease confidence.