Average U.S. diesel fuel price retreats from last week’s increase

The U.S. average retail price for a gallon of diesel retreated slightly from last week’s 9-cent increase, according to the weekly report issued for Monday, Sept. 30, by the Energy Information Administration.

The U.S. average diesel fuel price dropped 1.5 cents from last week’s report, according to the EIA. Decreases were reported for every region, except for California, where no change was reported.

EIA data show a different story than the ProMiles data below.

The U.S. average diesel fuel price is 25.1 cents lower than reported one year ago, according to the EIA.

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

• U.S. – $3.066, down 1.5 cents.
• East Coast – $3.065, down 1.8 cents.
• New England – $3.56, down 1.4 cents.
• Central Atlantic – $3.238, down 1.4 cents.
• Lower Atlantic – $2.948, down 2.3 cents.
• Midwest – $2.987, down a half of a cent.
• Gulf Coast – $2.827, down 3.1 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.032, down one-fifth of a cent.
• West Coast – $3.645, down a half of a cent.
• West Coast without California – $3.228, down 1 cent.
• California – $3.976, no change.

Unlike in the EIA report, the U.S. average diesel price increase reported by ProMiles increased above last Monday’s report but not nearly as much as it had last week.  

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.

According to its report dated Monday, Sept. 30, regional diesel prices increases ranged from a half cent or less on the West Coast and the West Coast excluding California to a high of 3.5 cents per gallon in the Midwest. Average price increases were reported for all regions, unlike EAI data.

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

• U.S. – $2.985, up 2.9 cents.
• East Coast – $3.06, up 2.3 cents.
• New England – $3.054, up 2.1 cents.
• Central Atlantic – $3.263, 2.3 cents.
• Lower Atlantic – $2.956, up 2.6 cents.
• Midwest – $2.943, up 3.5 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $2.861, up 2.8 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.003, up 2.6 cents.
• West Coast – $3.491, up a half of a cent.
• West Coast less California – $3.212, up two-fifths of a cent.
• California – $3.907, up 1.8 cents.

Click here to view ProMiles fuel data averaged by state.

AAA reported a national average diesel price per gallon at $3.015 for Monday, Sept 30.

That is slightly more than the price a week previous, $3.013.

A month previous, AAA reported $2.931 per gallon of diesel fuel, and a year ago $3.21 per gallon.

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