On average across the U.S., diesel prices drop by a couple of cents

The average price per gallon for a diesel fuel dropped 2.5 cents from Monday, Oct. 29 compared to the Monday before, according to the Energy Information Administration.

According to the EIA, regional average decreases ranged from a third of a penny in New England and Rocky Mountain states to 3.7 cents in Lower Atlantic states.

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

• U.S. – $3.355, down 2.5 cents.
• East Coast – $3.346, down 2.3 cents.
• New England – $3.365, down three-tenths of a cent.
• Central Atlantic – $3.523, down 1 cent.
• Lower Atlantic – $3.217 down 3.7 cents.
• Midwest – $3.31, down 2.3 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $3.117, down 3.5 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.405, down three-tenths of a cent.
• West Coast – $3.848, down 2.3 cents.
• West Coast less California – $3.564, down 2.3 cents.
• California – $4.074, down 2.2 cents.

ProMiles reports national average retail price for diesel on Monday, Oct. 29, being 2 cents lower than the week previous.  The price is 51.3 cents higher than one year ago.

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.

According to ProMiles, average prices increased in only two regions, New England and Rock Mountains states. In both cases, increases were fractions of a penny.

Increases in all other regions decreased from just over a penny in Central Atlantic states to 3.5 cents in California.

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

• U.S. – $3.299, down 2.1 cents.
• East Coast – $3.334, down 1.7 cents.
• New England – $3.325, up three-fifths of a cent.
• Central Atlantic – $3.54, down 1.1 cents.
• Midwest – $3.289, down 2.1 cents.
• Gulf Coast – $3.145, down 2.7 cents.
• Rocky Mountain – $3.408, up one-fifth of a cent.
• West Coast – $3.719, down 2.6 cents.
• West Coast less California, $3.495, down 1.6 cents.
• California, $4.033, down 3.5 cents.

AAA reports a national average price per gallon for diesel fuel at $3.283 for Monday, Oct. 29.

A week previous, the price was $3.294

A month previous, AAA reported $3.205 per gallon and a year ago $2.743 per gallon.

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