Diesel prices rise across the U.S.; West Coast rates jump a dime

While this a week ago Monday the average U.S. price for a gallon of diesel went up negligibly. This Monday, there is nothing shy about a 6.1-cent increase.

On Monday, April 16, the Energy Information Administration reported the average prices for a gallon of diesel fuel across the U.S. was $3.104. For the two weeks previous the average price was parked at $3.04 per gallon.

While increases were recorded for all regions, drivers in West Coast states other than California paid a dime more per gallon, the biggest increase in the U.S., according to the EIA.

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

• U.S. – $3.104, up 6.1 cents
• East Coast – $3.116, up 5 cents
• New England – $3.149, up 3.3 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.275, up 4.3 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $2.998, up 5.9 cents
• Midwest – $3.016, up 5.9 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.91, up 6.6 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.137, up 5.1  cents
• West Coast – $3.583, up 8.3 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.326, up 10 cents
• California – $3.787, up 7 cents.

ProMiles reports that the average U.S. price for a gallon of diesel going up 6.4 cents.

On Monday, the average price across the U.S. was $3.046 per gallon, according to ProMiles. A week before it was $2.982.

Prices increased in all regions, according to ProMiles and corroborating the trend recorded by the EIA. West Coast without California saw prices go up 11.6 cents per gallon, according to ProMiles.

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. – $3.046, up 6.4 cents
• East Coast – $3.125, up 6.4 cents
• New England – $3.14, up 1.7 cents
• Central Atlantic – $3.318, up 4.9 cents
• Lower Atlantic – $3.024, up 7.2 cents
• Midwest – $3.005, up 6.9 cents
• Gulf Coast – $2.906, up 6.1 cents
• Rocky Mountain – $3.156, up 5.8 cents
• West Coast – $3.483, up 9.8 cents
• West Coast less California – $3.282, up 11.6 cents
• California – $3.7932, up 7.3 cents

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.009 for Monday, April 16, about 3.5 cents higher than a week before, $2.974 per gallon.

A month ago, AAA reported $2.93 per gallon and a year ago $2.534 per gallon.

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