Diesel prices pretty much stay put compared to last week

The average cost for a gallon of diesel fuel nationwide on Monday was less than a penny more compared to a week previous, according to the Energy Information Administration.

On Monday, July 30, the EIA reported the U.S. average price per gallon of diesel cost $3.226.

In only one region did the average price per gallon decrease, down four-fifths of a cent in Rocky Mountain states.

Only in the Midwest did the average price go up more than a penny, according to the EIA.

The average price per gallon for diesel fuel is 69.5 cents higher than a year ago.

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

• U.S. – $3.226, up three-fifths of a cent
• East Coast – $3.223, up three-fifths of a cent
• New England – $3.274, up a half of a cent
• Lower Atlantic – $3.096, up nine-tenths of a cent
• Central Atlantic – $3.39, up one-tenth of a cent
• Midwest – $3.156, up 1.4 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.997, up two-fifths of a cent
• Rocky Mountain – $3.361, down four-fifths of a cent
• West Coast – $3.72, up one-fifth of a cent
• West Coast less California – $3.437, up one-tenth of a cent
• California – $3.945, up one-fifth of a cent.

ProMiles reports national average retail price for diesel on Monday being within a fraction of a cent of prices from the week previous. Across the country in all regions prices stayed within about a penny or less of prices the week before, except in California, where the average price increase was just under 2 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. – $3.155, up three-tenths of a cent
• East Coast – $3.217, up three-tenths of a cent
• New England – $3.267, up 1.1 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.432, up a half of a cent
• Lower Atlantic – $3.109, up a half of a cent
• Midwest – $3.123, up four-fifths of a cent
• Gulf Coast – $3.008, down one-tenth of a cent
• Rocky Mountain – $3.365, down a half of a cent
• West Coast – $3.582, up four-fifths of a cent
• West Coast less California, $3.404, down nine-tenths of a cent
• California, $3.935, up 1.9 cents.

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.15 for Monday, July 30.

A week previous, the price was $3.156.

A month previous, AAA reported $3.163 per gallon and a year ago $2.467 per gallon.

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