Across the U.S., the average price for diesel fuel creeps up

The U.S. average price for a gallon of has gone up, according to the federal Energy Information Administration.

On Monday, Feb. 18, the EIA reported the average price for a gallon of diesel across the U.S. was 4 cents higher than a week ago.

The average prices in each region tracked by the EIA have increased from a week ago. Increases ranged from less than a penny in New England to 5.5 cents in the Lower Atlantic and Midwest states.

The increase in the U.S. average pushed the price above $3 per gallon. The U.S. average price had stayed below $3 per gallon for the five previous weeks.

Monday’s average price is 2.1 cents lower than one year ago.

Following are the average prices by region as reported by the EIA for Monday:

• U.S. – $3.006, up 4 cents
• East Coast – $3.073, up 4.2 cents.
• New England – $3.165, up two-fifths of a cent.
• Central Atlantic – $3.256, up 3.1 cents.
• Lower Atlantic – $2.927, up 5.5 cents.
• Midwest – $2.904, up 5.5 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $2.809, up 3.3 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $2.887, up 1.7 cents.
• West Coast – $3.458, up 2.3 cents.
• West Coast without California – $3.1044, up 2 cents.
• California – $3.739, up 2.5 cents.

In contrast, ProMiles reports national average U.S. retail price for diesel fuel on Monday, Feb. 18, went up less than a penny.

ProMiles, the software company that maintains the websites ProMiles.com and TruckMiles.com, offers its own weekly fuel price information. The company’s fuel price data are presented in the same format used by the EIA in the agency’s weekly reports. The prices include a national average as well as regional averages, and comparisons to the previous week and the previous year.

A key difference between the EIA and ProMiles reporting is the type and number of fueling stations the company surveys in order to calculate its averages. While EIA surveys 400 truck stops and convenience stores nationwide, ProMiles uses its direct feed from thousands of truck stops to develop its averages.

A year ago, the U.S. average price for diesel fuel was 9.4 cents higher, according to ProMiles data.

Following are the average prices by region as reported by the ProMiles.com:

• U.S. – $2.875, up seven-tenths of a cent.
• East Coast – $3.011, up seven-tenths of a cent.
• New England – $3.134, down 1 cent.
• Central Atlantic – $3.237, up four-fifths of a cent.
• Lower Atlantic – $2.879, up 1.1 cents.
• Midwest – $2.815, up 1.2 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $2.765, up four-fifths of a cent.
• Rocky Mountain – $2.861, down 1.2 cents.
• West Coast – $3.239, no change.
• West Coast less California – $3.011, down one-fifth of a cent
• California – $3.609, down seven-tenths of a cent.

Click here to view ProMiles fuel data averaged by state.

AAA reported a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $2.929 for Monday, Feb. 18.

A week previous, the price was $2.916.

A month previous, AAA reported $2.925 per gallon of diesel fuel and a year ago $2.969 per gallon.

The highest recorded average price for diesel was $4.845 per gallon on July 17, 2008, according to AAA.