U.S. diesel prices drop for sixth week

For the sixth consecutive week, average diesel prices across the U.S. have declined, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The average price for a gallon of diesel on Monday, Feb. 5, was $3.086. On Monday, March 19, it was 11.4 cents lower, $2.972 per gallon. The year started with average U.S. diesel price at $2.91 per gallon on Jan. 1.

Despite the continuing downward trend, the average price for Rocky Mountain states was up 2.2 cents. The Gulf Coast and West Coast without California regions each saw increases of less than half a cent.

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

• U.S. – $2.972, down four-tenths of a cent
• East Coast – $3.009, down 1.5 cents
• New England – 3.101, down six-tenths of a cent
• Central Atlantic – $3.20, down 2.1 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $2.858, down 1.3 cents
• Midwest – $2.898, down one-tenth of a cent
• Gulf Coast – $2.786, up four-tenths of a cent
• Rocky Mountain – $2.925, up 2.2 cents
• West Coast – $3.384, down two-tenths of a cent
• West Coast less California – $3.06, up eight-tenths of a cent
• California – $3.641, down 1.1 cents.

The story is much the same according to ProMiles, which reports the average U.S. price for diesel being down a penny per gallon from a week ago. Prices have declined in recent weeks. However, a year ago the average price across the U.S. for a gallon of diesel was $4.14.

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.

Three of the regions show increases in the Monday report compared to the week before, according to ProMiles. While Golf Coast and the West Coast without California showed increases of less than half a cent per gallon, the price for a gallon of diesel fuel in Rock Mountain states went up 2.3 cents.

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

• U.S. – $2.901, down 1.1 cents
• East Coast – $2.994, down 1.3 cents
• New England – $3.116, down 1.3 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.237, down 1.1 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $2.866, down seven-tenths of a cent
• Midwest – $2.872, down 1.8 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.771, up three-tenths of a cent
• Rocky Mountain – $2.905, up 2.3 cents
• West Coast – $3.237, down four-tenths of a cent
• West Coast less California – $2.988, up four-tenths of a cent
• California – $3.597, down 1.3 cents

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $2.928 for Monday. A week before, the price was $2.937 per gallon, a month ago $2.967 per gallon and a year ago, $2.513 per gallon.

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