Diesel fuel prices continue on the downward spiral

The average price per gallon for diesel fuel reported weekly on Mondays has dropped every week since Oct. 15.

Once again, the federal Energy Information Administration on Monday reported the average price for a gallon of diesel dropped, this time by 4.6 cents. Last Monday, the average price across the U.S. had dropped a nickel from the week before. This is the eighth week of decreases.

The price is 25.1 cents higher than one year ago Monday.

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

• U.S. – $3.161, down 4.6 cents.
• East Coast – $3.194, down 3.5 cents.
• New England – $3.295, down 1.5 cents.
• Central Atlantic – $3.368, down 2.6 cents.
• Lower Atlantic – $3.053, down 4.5 cents.
• Midwest – $3.066, down 5.1 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $2.934, down 5.5 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.239, down 5.2 cents.
• West Coast – $3.6652, down 4.2 cents.
• West Coast without California – $3.357, down 4.9 cents.
• California – $3.887, down 3.5 cents.

ProMiles reports national average retail price for diesel fuel on Monday, Dec. 10, being 4.5 cents lower than the week previous, and that is the same amount it was lower last week compared to the week before.

In two regions, Central Atlantic and Rocky Mountain, the decrease was more than a nickel and

The U.S. average cost is 23.9 cents higher per gallon of diesel fuel than one year ago. Last week the spread was 27 higher than a year before.

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. – $3.10, down 4.5 cents.
• East Coast – $3.169, down 4.8 cents.
• New England – $3.278, down 2.7 cents.
• Central Atlantic – $3.377, down 5.1 cents.
• Lower Atlantic – $3.045, down 4.8 cents.
• Midwest – $3.064, down 4.6 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $2.952, down 4.2 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.25, down 5.2 cents.
• West Coast – $3.517, down 3.9 cents.
• West Coast less California – $3.305, down 4.9 cents.
• California – $3.841, down 23.9 cents.

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.111 for Monday, Dec. 10.

A week previous, the price was $3.152.

A month previous, AAA reported $3.256 per gallon and a year ago $2.837 per gallon.

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