Average prices for diesel inch higher for most of the U.S.

On average across the U.S., it cost a penny more for a gallon of diesel fuel on Monday than a week previous, according to the Energy Information Administration.

It is the fourth consecutive weekly diesel price increase.

On Monday, Sept. 17, the EIA reported the U.S. average price per gallon of diesel cost $3.268.

Only for the Rocky Mountain region was the average price for diesel lower, and there by less than half a cent, according to the EIA.

The largest increase was in Gulf Coast states, where the EIA reported an increase of 1.7 cents from a week previous. That is the lowest average price in the country.

The average price per gallon for diesel fuel is 47.7cents higher than a year ago. The year started with an average U.S. price for diesel on Jan. 1 of $2.973.

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

• U.S. – $3.268, up 1 cent.
• East Coast – $3.252, up three-fifths of a cent.
• New England – $3.267, up 1.2 cents.
• Central Atlantic – $3.415, up four-fifths of a cent.
• Lower Atlantic – $3.135, two-fifths of a cent.
• Gulf Coast – $3.056, up 1.7 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.363, down two-fifths of a cent.
• West Coast – $3.755, up nine-tenths of a cent.
• West Coast, less California, $3.473, up four-fifths of a cent.
• California – $3.979, up 1 cent.

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.186 for Monday, Sept. 17.

A week previous, the price was $3.179.

A month previous, AAA reported $3.149 per gallon and a year ago $2.719 per gallon.

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