Diesel fuel indexes show prices continuing to rise

While both the federal Energy Information Administration and mileage-tracking software company ProMiles each report increases in the national U.S. average price for a gallon of diesel fuel on Monday compared to last week, the two indexes vary in size of the increase.

According to the federal EIA, the average cost for a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide on Monday, Oct. 15, was up nearly a penny.

However, ProMiles reports the U.S. average being up more than 4 cents.

In addition, while ProMiles reports prices in the West Coast without California being more than 4 cents lower, the EIA reports no change.

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

• U.S. – $3.394, up nine-tenths of a cent.
• East Coast – $3.382, up 2.2 cents.
• New England – $3.361, up 1.7 cents.
• Central Atlantic – $3.544, up 1.3 cents.
• Lower Atlantic – $3.272, up 2.9 cents.
• Midwest – $3.351, no change.
• Gulf Coast – $3.172, up three-tenths of a cent.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.40, up 1 cent.
• West Coast – $3.88, up 3.3 cents.
• West Coast less California – $3.591, up 3.3 cents.
• California – $4.109, down one-fifth of a cent.

Both the EIA and ProMiles reported last week increases of 7 cents per gallon for the U.S. average.

EIA data show consecutive weekly average U.S. diesel price increases starting Aug. 20, when the price was $3.207. Today’s average price is 60.7 cents higher than a year ago.

ProMiles reports national average retail price for diesel on Monday, Oct. 15, being 4.7 cents higher than the week previous.

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. – $3.328, up 4.7 cents.
• East Coast – $3.354, up 4.7 cents.
• New England – $3.303, up 2.6 cents.
• Central Atlantic – $3.551, up 4.9 cents.
• Midwest – $3.324, up 5.1 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $3.176, up 4.2 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.395, up 2.1 cents.
• West Coast – $3.753, up 3.9 cents.
• West Coast less California, $3.3512, up 6.1 cents.
• California, $4.072, up 3.1 cents.

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.298 for Monday, Oct. 15.

A week previous, the price was $3.276

A month previous, AAA reported $3.183 per gallon and a year ago $2.7251 per gallon.

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