California diesel prices hover around $4 per gallon

By one index, diesel fuel prices in California dance just under $4 per gallon and by another just over it.

In all regions across the United States diesel prices rose in the past week.

On Monday, May 21, the Energy Information Administration reported the U.S. average price per gallon of diesel cost rose 3.8 cents to $3.277. This is the tenth week of consecutive average U.S. price increases.

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

• U.S. – $3.277, up 3.8 cents
• East Coast – $3.271, up 3.5 cents
• New England – $3.282, up 3.1 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.42, up 4 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $3.163, up 3.1 cents
• Gulf Coast – $3.055, up 4.3 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.348, up 3.2 cents
• West Coast – $3.765, up 3.4 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.503, up 2.1 cents
• California – $3.973, up 4.4 cents.

ProMiles reports national average retail for diesel is up 9.2 cents per gallon at $3.298.

California broke the $4-per-gallon threshold this week, rising 8 cents per gallon.

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.

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

• U.S. – $3.29, up 9.2 cents
• East Coast – $3.2328, up 6.6 cents
• New England – $3.353, up 12.8 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.545, up 11 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $3.24, up 6.5 cents
• Midwest – $3.242, up 7.5 cents
• Gulf Coast – $3.14, up 8.8 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.4062, up 9.4 cents
• West Coast – $3.699, up 4 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.484, up 1.8 cents
• California – $4.0169, up 8 cents

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.184 for Monday, May 21.

A week ago, the price was $3.132, which is 5.2 cents lower.

A month ago, AAA reported $3.031 per gallon and a year ago $2.501 per gallon.

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