Pressure-sensitive recording material

A method of producing pressure-sensitive recording material wherein a sheet material is coated with pressure rupturable microcapsules containing therein a solution of dyestuff in a solvent fraction, the main components of which are chosen from the group consisting of non-condensed bicyclic and tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, having a boiling range (converted to atm. press.) of 265.degree. to 360.degree. C., which comprises treating a raw material fraction in the presence of an acid catalyst and under the conditions of liquid phase, 0.1 to 5 hours in contact time, and 10% by weight or less in concentration of monocyclic aromatic olefins contained in the material fed to the reaction vessel, said raw material fraction being obtained from the product of thermal cracking of petroleum hydrocarbons at a temperature of 700.degree. C. or above and mainly containing the distillate having boiling points in the range of 75.degree. C. to 198.degree. C. and the main components thereof being monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (excluding aromatic olefins) each having 6-10 carbon atoms and monocyclic aromatic olefins.