The city of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against major U.S. shale oil producers, including Hess and Permian Resources, alleging that they conspired to curb production. This alleged conspiracy is said to have led to higher prices for gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil. The lawsuit accuses these companies of engaging in a scheme that artificially inflated the price of crude oil and light petroleum products, in violation of antitrust laws. The case has been filed as a price-fixing class action in a U.S. court.