Average U.S. diesel prices decrease again

Diesel prices continue to decrease this week, according to March 5 data from the Energy Information Administration.

Per-gallon prices Midwest dropped the most, 2.7 cents to $2.894. Prices in Rocky Mountain states dropped 2.6 cents from a week ago, to $2.91 per gallon.

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

• U.S. – $2.992, down 1.5 cents
• East Coast – $3.046, down 1.1 cents
• New England – $3.1267, down one-tenth of a cent
• Central Atlantic – $3.24, down 1.5 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $2.894, down 1.2 cents
• Midwest – $2.92, down 2.7 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.793, down four-tenths of one cent
• Rocky Mountain – $2.91, down 2.6 cents
• West Coast – $3.392, down five-tenths of a cent
• West Coast less California – $3.064, unchanged
• California – $3.652, down eight-tenths of a cent

ProMiles, the software company that maintains the websites ProMiles.com and TruckMiles.com, shows the average price of a gallon of diesel staying below $3 on Monday.

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.

Only California saw diesel prices increase, according to ProMiles, and there only slightly. All other regions reported decreases in the average prices.

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

• U.S. – $2.931, down 1.6 cents
• East Coast – $3.028, down 1.9 cents
• New England – $3.153, up seven-tenths of a cent
• Central Atlantic – $3.261, down 2.3 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $2.903, down 1.7 cents
• Midwest – $2.915, down 1.8 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.787, down 1 cent
• Rocky Mountain – $2.893, down 2.2 cents
• West Coast – $3.253, up one-tenth of a cent
• West Coast less California – $2.997, down 1 cent
• California – $3.624, up seven-tenths of a cent

AAA has indexed diesel prices at $2.947 for Monday. A week ago, the price was $2.955 per gallon, a month ago $2.998 per gallon and a year ago, $2.523 per gallon.

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